23/05/14: The Future of Science is in Good Hands - Alltech Young Scientist Winners Announced

Investigations of a rainbow trout gene (Kpna7) and its role in oocyte and early embryonic development and a novel β-Defensin Gene Cluster expressed in the reproductive tract of both mares and stallions were the two winning topics in this year’s Alltech Young Scientist Program, announced today at Alltech’s 30^th Annual International Symposium, which draws to a close today in downtown Lexington, Ky., USA. There was unprecedented interest in the competition this year, with more than 8,500 participants, representing the future generation of animal, human and plant health scientists. The Alltech Young Scientist Competition, now in its ninth year, attracts the brightest scientific thinkers from colleges and universities around the world awarding students for their scientific discoveries.

From left to right: Dr. Inge Russell, Gillian Johnson
Dr. Mark Lyons

Eight regional winners representing Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America came to Lexington, Ky, to present their research before a panel of international judges for the graduate grand prize of $10,000 and the undergraduate grand prize of $5,000.

This year’s graduate winner was Lei Wang, originally from China and currently completing her PhD studies in the United States with the University of West Virginia. Wang’s research work focused on novel functional roles of oocyte-specific nuclear transporter (Kpna7) in relation to developmental competency of rainbow trout oocyte and early embryo.

Gillian Johnson, from the University of Limerick, Ireland, was the winner of the undergraduate competition. Johnson’s research work focused on comparative genomic identification and characterisation of a novel β-defensin gene cluster in the equine genome.

“This year’s competition brought eight outstanding students from around the globe to Lexington to compete. It was an exciting competition and the research papers presented all have the potential to result in significant improvements for the field of aqua, plant technology and environmental science,” said Dr. Inge Russell, director of the Alltech Young Scientist Program.

From left to right: Dr. Inge Russell, Lei Weng,
Dr. Mark Lyons

“This year’s winners proved yet again the importance of investing in education and fostering innovation in our young people,” said Suniti Mujumdar, Alltech’s manager of education initiatives. “It is vital to recognize and harness the power of these talented young minds because the future of scientific innovation is in their hands.”

To participate in this program, students wrote a scientific paper that focused on an aspect of animal health and feed technology. The first phase of the program included a competition within each competing country, followed by a zone competition. The winners of each zone moved on to a regional phase and the regional winners competed in the global phase.

The Alltech Young Scientist Program is currently taking applicants for its 2015 competition. To enter, visit the website at www.alltechyoungscientist.com.

“Alltech is very proud and honoured to assist scientific graduates from around the globe in their research, and we encourage students to embark on their scientific journeys with us” said Dr. Pearse Lyons, founder and president of Alltech.

Alltech’s 30^th Annual International Symposium is hosting 2,000 delegates from 60 countries in Lexington, Kentucky, May 18-21, 2014. Keep up with the latest happenings at the Symposium through alltech.com/symposium. Join in the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #agfuture. Photos, interviews and videos are available for download at www.alltech.com/press. 

The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the magazine International Aquafeed which is published by Perendale Publishers Ltd.

23/05/14: Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI) to Present Benchmark Framework for Evaluating Certifications at WAA14

Beginning a period of stakeholder consultation on a draft of a global Benchmark Framework for seafood certification schemes

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The Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI) will be present at the WAA14 to start the consultation on its draft Benchmark Framework for Aquaculture Standards and will host a workshop on the Framework, the first of a series of workshops planned around the globe. 

Delegates at WAA14 are welcome to join the Aquaculture Standards and Certification session on Tuesday June 10 (11:10-17:20) to learn more about GSSI, its mission and progress to date, from it’s Program Manager, Herman Wisse. On June 11th and 12th GSSI will host a consultation workshop to present the draft Benchmark Framework for Aquaculture Standards and begin to collect comments on the various indicators. This session is by invitation only; delegates interested in participating are encouraged to contact Herman Wisse.

The Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI) was created to help address sustainability issues in the global seafood supply chain caused by the existing confusion on the large number of seafood certification programs. Through the development of a global benchmarking tool the GSSI will provide recognition to credible certification programs as well as transparency on their performance.

By reducing confusion and providing transparency the GSSI aims to facilitate more efficient decision making and application of seafood certification programs worldwide. The ultimate goal is to ensure confidence in the supply and promotion of sustainable seafood to consumers, and promote improvements in the certification and labelling programs. 

Over the past 12 months the GSSI has worked intensively with stakeholders in the global seafood supply chain, including industry, public institutions, NGO’s, and academia, to develop a first draft of its Benchmarking Tool.  This draft will be released at the WAA14 starting a period of highly-structured stakeholder consultations, including a series of workshops and a pilot testing program, to solicit comprehensive feedback which will be used by the GSSI Expert Working Groups to finalise the Benchmarking Tool. Once finalized, seafood certification programs will be invited to apply for GSSI benchmarking and subsequent recognition.

“WAA14 is a perfect venue for presenting our initial draft of the benchmark framework for aquaculture because it will enable us to connect with the international aquaculture sector of the global seafood supply chain,” said Mr. Wisse.

World Aquaculture Adelaide 2014 is an opportunity for the international aquaculture community to present their research/work, exchange ideas and discuss a vision for the future of the aquaculture industry as they focus on the theme of ‘Create, Nurture, Grow’, reflecting the dynamic nature of aquaculture development in the region.

For more information about GSSI please visit www.ourGSSI.org or contact Herman Wisse at seafood@hermanwisse.nl

The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the magazine International Aquafeed which is published by Perendale Publishers Ltd.

22/05/14: 21st Annual Practical Short Course on Aquaculture Feed Extrusion, Nutrition and Feed Management; Sep. 21-26, 2014

A one-week Practical Short Course on Aquaculture Feed Extrusion, Nutrition and Feed Management will be presented on Sep. 21-26, 2014 at Texas A&M University by staff, industry representative and consultants. This program will cover information on designing new feed mills and selecting conveying, drying, grinding, conditioning and feed mixing equipment. Current practices for preparing full-fat soy meal processing; recycling fisheries by-products, raw animal products, and secondary resources; raw material, extrusion of floating, sinking, and high fat feeds; spraying and coating fats, digests and preservatives; use of encapsulated ingredients and preparation of premixes, nutritional requirements of warn water fish and shrimp, feed managements and least cost formulation are reviewed.

Practical demonstration of sinking, floating, and high fat aquafeed, are demonstrated on four major types of extruders - (dry, interrupted flights, single and twin screw), using various shaping dies. Other demonstrations include: vacuum coating and lab analysis of the raw material for extrusion. Reservations are accepted on a first-come basis.

For more information, programs and application forms, contact:

Who: Dr. Mian N. Riaz

Address:
2476 TAMU; Food Protein R&D Center
Texas A&M University; College Station, TX 77843-2476

Phone: 979/845-2774

Fax: 979/845-2744

Email: mnriaz@tamu.edu

Website: http://foodprotein.tamu.edu/extrusion

 The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the magazine International Aquafeed which is published by Perendale Publishers Ltd.

21/05/14: Vietnam seafood exports has the highest growth in 3 years

As expected, in QI/2014, Vietnam shrimp exports continued to get positive results in 2013 and reported high growth thanks to increase in whiteleg shrimp production and shipment. This contributed to driving total seafood exports of the country to reach US$1.65 billion, up 31 percent year on year, the highest growth level in 3 years.

Whiteleg shrimp sales reported an year-on-year increase of 212 percent and occupied 60 percent of Vietnam’s total shrimp export value while black tiger shrimp shipment was up 13 percent and made up 32 percent of the total. With the revenue of nearly US$800 million and the proportion of 48 percent of the total seafood exports, shrimp sales compensated for the deep and continuous dive in exports of tuna ( -26 percent), bivalve mollusk (-13 percent) while exports of pangasius and cephalopod reported an unstable growth of 5 percent and 5.7 percent, respectively

Thanks to soaring in shrimp export turnover, Vietnam’s seafood exports to all markets witnessed a positive growths of 11-74 percent. In QI/2014, the U.S. remained to be the largest importer of Vietnam seafood with the highest growth in shrimp sales of more than 200 percent, pangasius up 16 percent but tuna downed 32 percent. Antidumping duty on Vietnam shrimp and pangasius announced recently by the US Department of Commerce (DOC) and the approval of Farm Bill 2014 have not had a direct impact on Vietnam’s seafood exports in the quarter.

Through March 2014, Vietnam seafood exports to EU rose 19 percent thanks to high demand from the market while exports to Japan went up 10 percent despite low seafood demand from the market.

  

In QI/2014, exports of Vietnam shrimp was high thanks to its high supply and price while demand for tuna declined due to lack of high quality raw tuna for processing sashimi. Exports of processed tuna in the quarter downed 12 percent while exports of frozen/fresh tuna fell 33 percent.

With the current state of fish production and exports, which strategies Vietnam will apply to boost exporting shrimp and pangasius and regain the market share of shipment of tuna and other marine products in coming months?

The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the magazine Internatio
nal Aquafeed which is published by Perendale Publishers Ltd.