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Natural sciences
- Microbiomes
- Aquatic biology
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Engineering and technology
- Environmental microorganism biotechnology
- Resources engineering
The sustainable supply of food for the growing World population is a key challenges in the 21st century. Aquaculture can play a central role in providing high-quality food, yet, it relies on fishmeal and other animal proteins as feed to ensure a high-quality protein product with all essential amino acids, necessary for humans. Hence, there is a pressing need to develop novel, sustainable feed sources that rely on recovered, renewable resources. Here, we will use biogas, produced on site in the aquaculture plant from recirculating aquaculture systems’ waste, to produce high-quality microbial protein. We will make use of a novel, unprecedented consortium of methane oxidizing (MOB) and sulphide oxidizing (SOB) bacteria that are rich in all essential amino acids. First, we will combine MOB with SOB through a dual approach of (1) growing pure MOB and SOB cultures individually and together, and (2) (co-)enriching the SOB and MOB. Next, the most optimal MOB-SOB partnerships, in terms of essential amino acid content, will be used to create novel macrostructures or “bioflocs”. Then, we will use this MOB-SOB microbial biomass, both single cells and bioflocs, to feed Artemia. Finally, we will use the MOB-SOB biomass directly (as bioflocs) and indirectly (as Artemia grown on MOB-SOB biomass) as feed to grow shrimp towards a food source rich in all essential amino acids. The knowledge generated here will allow to move towards circularity in aquaculture.