Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Project Summary/Abstract Project Title: The purchase of an alternate feed in support of land-based oyster farming.PD/PI Name: Tap Pryor Institution: Maine Shellfish Developers LLCProblem/Opportunity: Closed containment farming of large numbers of certain intertidal shellfish at non-coastal sites appears to be economically feasible given suitable tankage, flawless water quality, a high level of automation, and - crucially - an inexpensive, bulk source of microalgae as a key feed component. It is noteworthy that the biofuel and omega-3 food industries culture microalgae in bulk both in ponds and with fermenter-bioreactors - common industrial methods not yet co-opted by aquaculturists. It is serendipitous that this should be the case at a time when near-shore oyster farming is struggling to survive let alone expand, burdened by regulatory and environmental constraints. It presents an opportunity for a breakaway to land-based farming of oysters although not without fresh technical challenges. The newcomer will require a complex supply chain demanding attention to transport, storage, and delivery to densely loaded stock on a reliable schedule.Project Objectives: We call it a "farm" although really it is a "feedlot," a type of animal feeding operation used for intensive animal grow-out. Feedlots are faulted for behavioral reasons, but oysters are literally brainless, in effect compact eating machines. Accepting the feedlot analogy challenges the land-based shellfish industry to reach its full potential eventually harvesting in the billions like greenhouse tomatoes. The overarching objective is to determine if it's possible to transport and store industrial-cultured algae without significant degradation of nutritional values, develop feeding protocols to optimize nutritional uptake, and confirm the cost effectiveness of using an outside source of feed production vs. growing on site.Description of the Effort: Maine Shellfish Developers (MSD) will be transporting algae from a single supplier long enough to identify types of equipment needed and any biological constrains. Not all modes of algae that are offered can be trialed, but even one - pressed algal residuals - will allow ample data collection from two-tank experimental comparisons of growth and survival of different densities. Intermediate to these investigations will be obtaining nutritional profiles, energy demands, and the manpower versus automation cost factors. Conclusions from these data will inform the Phase II objectives as well as MSD's overall business plan.Anticipated Results: By the end of Phase I, we will have demonstrated feasible sourcing and delivering of a low cost and effective feed for land-based shellfish culture. We propose emulating the cattle feedlot model, i.e. purchasing, not developing our own feed. By doing so we will expand faster, sooner and with lower costs per unit, thanks to economies of scale and, more to the point, focusing on that which we know best - growing shellfish.Potential Commercial Applications: MSD has identified several potential bulk algae sources, confirmed that at least pressed algal residual is inexpensively available and needs now to test several for cost effectiveness. It seems, therefore, that intertidal shellfish are on the path to genuine domestication. Capable of remaining out of water in good health at room temperature, they are already semi-terrestrial and can be routinely washed, sorted, weighed, counted and even laser branded. This is more agribusiness than aquaculture. It portends a mini revolution in seafood security. Some of our favorite and most health-giving foodstuff becomes available to all, in effect everyman's cheap luxury. The land-based concept portends offering excellent oysters at half the cost. Moreover, they will be sustainable, traceable, and harvested weekly year around.
Animal Health Component
50%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
0%
Applied
50%
Developmental
50%
Goals / Objectives
Project Goals: We call it a "farm" although really it is a "feedlot," a type of animal feeding operation used for intensive animal grow-out. Feedlots are faulted for behavioral reasons, but oysters are literally brainless, in effect compact eating machines. Accepting the feedlot analogy challenges the land-based shellfish industry to reach its full potential eventually harvesting in the billions like greenhouse tomatoes. The overarching objective is to determine if it's possible to transport and store industrial-cultured algae without significant degradation of nutritional values, develop feeding protocols to optimize nutritional uptake, and confirm the cost effectiveness of using an outside source of feed production vs. growing on site.
Project Methods
Methods:Task 1 - Trade Study:The objectives above are intended to identify the most balanced technically suitable targets among a set of proposed variables. At one level, there is opportunity (delegating feed-making), cost functions (for transport, storage) and constraints (biological limitations). Still another level comprises guidelines (self-operated vs contract, containers versus refrigeration, scheduling of activity). Lastly there are the algal mode specifics (price per kg, mode available). The overarching constraint is cost per oyster (less that ten cents each). Task 2 - Substances and Sources:Algal physical options: Bulk-algae are available in several modes: live and 20% density, pressed residual at 10% and 20% density and flakes at 80% density. The level of density and form impacts shipping cost, storage choices and freshness, hence palatability and perhaps nutritional factors. Ultimately, each needs to be evaluated as to cost and efficacy, based convenience of handling as well as oyster growth and survival. MSD will focus on just two: live algae and pressed algal residual, both at 10% density. Storing live algae does involve logistical issues that will be familiar to any bulk supplier and probably applicable to MSD's purposes.Primary and secondary suppliers: MSD has arranged for purchase of bulk-algae from Mara Corporation, the nearest supplier and one in which their management welcomes adding both revenue from waste and brand recognition for making a significant contribution to food security. A potential back-up source is Qualitas in Texas - the former cultures heterotrophically with fermenter-bioreactors; the latter cultures in ponds and raceways. There are other entities that will be identified and vetted, but these two sources are recommended starting suppliers.Task 3 - Transport:Equipment selection will depend on volume needs and schedules of availability - presumably with volume increasing monthly as stock orders go from 20 tons/year to 400 tons/year within 36-48 months of the start and growing from 2-tank trials in Phase I to twenty tanks installed if not fully operational by the end of Phase II.Self-operated versus contractually: If in Nova Scotia, an 8-hour drive from Waldoboro, MSD would opt to make the pickup with a part-time driver and leased equipment. This has the advantage of scheduling flexibility at least until the system becomes reliably routine. Evaluation will be attractive to some extent with the supplier's circumstance. Having said that, MSD will undertake the first several runs with rented equipment since, if workable, it should become the more dependable solution. Moreover, if the mobile tank is ours, it may double as storage at the arch with the algae pumped directly to the Mark Vs.This may entail owning two tank trailers, each doubling as storage while the other is making a pick-up.Task 4 - Storage:On-site tankage versus refrigeration: Large volumes of liquids at whatever density are best stored in vats, but what size vats and for how long? (Several smaller vats may allow better lighting and a better ability to adjust culture physical and chemical parameters). Flakes thatare inexpensive to transport will require refrigeration but will have to be dried and powdered, without altering the nutritional profile, before delivery to the stock. Refrigeration, especially freezing, may contribute to the drying process. Use of flakes would have the disadvantage of manual handling.