Grant: Strategic Projects - Group
Dalhousie University
$187,500.00
Aquaculture waste utilization: bio-actives from farmed salmon and cod
FY 2009-10
Summary
Aquaculture continues to grow at an unprecedented rate of 8.8% per year since the early 1970's and this comes at a time when the harvest of wild-caught fish has leveled off due to global concerns about over-fishing. It is now clear that the growing market demand created in the world's seafood supply will have to be met by aquaculture. Despite the potential for growth, there is continued pressure from regulators to limit expansion based upon public concern over environmental concerns as well as spread of disease from farmed species to wild species. In addition, there is a public perception that the farmed species are fed growth-promoting and antibacterial chemicals that could become part of the food supply. One problem with the aquaculture fishery is the potential impact of processing waste on the environment. Much of this waste is converted into fish meal, silage or fertilizers yielding very low returns on investment in the necessary facilities to produce these by-products. However, it is now known that certain fish proteins recoverable from processing waste possess potential human health benefits. Dr. Marette and his team of researchers at Laval University have been able to link the presence of high levels of dietary fish protein (to date cod and Atlantic salmon) with a marked increase in insulin sensitivity in high fat-fed (obese) rats and humans. This is significant insofar as type 2 diabetes is related to obesity and has known to affect nearly 2 million Canadians. The thrust of this research project is to use edible aquaculture processing waste to produce metabolically bioactive peptides and to develop a new "nutraceutical" approach to the treatment of type 2 diabetes in humans. The commercial opportunity will be to use the bio-active nutraceuticals from farmed cod and Atlantic salmon to enhance insulin sensitivity in individuals prone to Type 2 diabetes. At the same time, the utilization of aquaculture discards for nutraceutical production could divert waste materials into production of more profitable end-products.
Program
Strategic Projects - Group
Recipient
Location
Nova Scotia, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
372683-2008
Name nom
Gill, Thomas
Department département
Process Engineering and Applied Science
Organization id
79
Institution établissement
Dalhousie University
Province en
Nova Scotia
Province fr
Nouvelle-Écosse
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2009
Competition year année de concours
2008
Award amount
187500
Program id
STPGP
Program nane en
Strategic Projects - Group
Program name fr
Projets stratégiques - De groupe
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
1081
Committee name en
Strategic Projects Selection Panel - Fishery Industry
Committee name fr
Comité de sélection des projets stratégiques - Industrie des pêches
Area of application code
106
Area of application group en
Agriculture and primary food production
Area of application group fr
Agriculture et produits alimentaires primaires
Area of application en
Aquaculture
Area of application fr
Aquiculture
Research subject code
5403
Research subject group en
Biochemistry
Research subject group fr
Biochimie
Research subject en
Proteins and peptides, amino acids
Research subject fr
Protéines et peptides, acides aminés
Partie
2 & 3
Nb partie
3
Application title
Aquaculture waste utilization: bio-actives from farmed salmon and cod
Keyword
NA
Application summary
Aquaculture continues to grow at an unprecedented rate of 8.8% per year since the early 1970's and this comes at a time when the harvest of wild-caught fish has leveled off due to global concerns about over-fishing. It is now clear that the growing market demand created in the world's seafood supply will have to be met by aquaculture. Despite the potential for growth, there is continued pressure from regulators to limit expansion based upon public concern over environmental concerns as well as spread of disease from farmed species to wild species. In addition, there is a public perception that the farmed species are fed growth-promoting and antibacterial chemicals that could become part of the food supply. One problem with the aquaculture fishery is the potential impact of processing waste on the environment. Much of this waste is converted into fish meal, silage or fertilizers yielding very low returns on investment in the necessary facilities to produce these by-products. However, it is now known that certain fish proteins recoverable from processing waste possess potential human health benefits. Dr. Marette and his team of researchers at Laval University have been able to link the presence of high levels of dietary fish protein (to date cod and Atlantic salmon) with a marked increase in insulin sensitivity in high fat-fed (obese) rats and humans. This is significant insofar as type 2 diabetes is related to obesity and has known to affect nearly 2 million Canadians. The thrust of this research project is to use edible aquaculture processing waste to produce metabolically bioactive peptides and to develop a new "nutraceutical" approach to the treatment of type 2 diabetes in humans. The commercial opportunity will be to use the bio-active nutraceuticals from farmed cod and Atlantic salmon to enhance insulin sensitivity in individuals prone to Type 2 diabetes. At the same time, the utilization of aquaculture discards for nutraceutical production could divert waste materials into production of more profitable end-products.
