What do you get when you bring fish farmers, feed producers, and researchers around the same table to talk fish health, feed evolution, and sustainability? A lot of curiosity – and even more conversation.
Over the past year, Aker QRILL Company, in collaboration with Alltech, hosted a series of Lunch seminars across Norway, creating space for industry professionals to exchange knowledge, explore new science, and ask big questions about the role of feed in fish health. So far, we’ve held 21 seminars over three years, meeting 270 unique people from almost 100 different companies. Along the Norwegian coast, all the way from Alta to Stavanger, the format has remained simple: open discussion and relevant insights.
Feed as a foundation for health
Our central theme, “Feed: the way to a healthy fish?”, has sparked dialogue on everything from feed formulation trends to nutrient gaps in modern diets throughout the Lunch seminars With input from guest speakers at Nofima, Nutrishell, Zooca – The Calanus Company, Bremnes Seashore, and Salmon Group, each session has helped frame feed not just as a commodity, but as a tool for long-term resilience and performance.
As several researchers pointed out, today’s aquaculture feed doesn’t always provide all the nutrients fish need to be robust. The Norwegian Fish Health Report has echoed this concern. Our aim has been to explore how ingredients like QRILL can help fill those gaps, especially in periods of stress or higher disease pressure.
Science that supports the future
One of the highlights from this year’s tour came from Nofima, whose presentation on marine osmolytes helped connect the dots between marine ingredients and fish health, reinforcing our message about QRILL’s functional benefits.
Across sessions, attendees have shown high interest in the science behind fish health, as well as our fishery story, and many were surprised by just how sustainable our krill harvesting practices are. For some, it was the first time hearing that QRILL is harvested from a certified, low-impact fishery in Antarctica, with less than 1% of the biomass touched.
The conversation hasn’t stopped at sustainability or science. Many participants voiced how valuable it was to have cross-sector dialogue, as a chance to meet face-to-face with others working in feed, farming, and research, and to talk openly about challenges and opportunities.
Looking ahead: QRILL as part of the feed toolbox
As feed continues to evolve, value in the field – through better fish health, growth, and resilience -must be part of the cost discussion. QRILL brings a unique combination of sustainability, nutritional value, and functional benefits. And when used as part of the ingredient mix during challenging periods, it can make a real difference in outcomes.
These sessions have shown the value of creating space for dialogue across sectors, where science, experience, and innovation meet. We’re proud to have connected with so many people through this series and look forward to continuing the conversation on fish health, sustainable feed, and the role of QRILL in modern aquaculture.