Rationale 2.12

Most farmed animals require feed. Although feed must meet the nutritional and welfare needs of the animal, it can have a negative environmental impact in how it is produced and utilised.

More than 70% of animal aquaculture is fed.5959Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). (2024). The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2024—Blue transformation in action. Rome, Italy: FAO. https://doi.org/10.4060/cd0683en Life cycle assessments indicate that feed can account for up to 90% of environmental impacts of fed aquaculture production.6060Little, D. C., Young, J. A., Zhang, W., Newton, R. W., Al Mamun, A., & Murray, F. J. (2018). Sustainable intensification of aquaculture value chains between Asia and Europe: A framework for understanding impacts and challenges. Aquaculture, 493, 338-354. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2017.12.033 Although most of those impacts typically occur during the production, harvesting, and processing of raw materials, environmental impacts can also occur during on-farm use through nutrient pollution and inefficient use of feed.

This Criterion addresses the environmental impacts resulting from feed usage on farm, as well as efficient use of feed raw materials. In addition, ASC-certified farms need to source feed from mills certified to the ASC Feed Standard, through which responsible sourcing of ingredients is assured.

Intent – The aquaculture industry uses responsibly produced feed efficiently.