Stakeholders' assessment of feed produced from nutrients recovered from aquaculture waste in an emerging economy

Abstract

The intensified aquaculture production and heavy feed use have placed high pressure on the environment due to increasing waste. This study aims to understand how stakeholders along the aquaculture value chain evaluate feed produced from nutrients recovered from waste in aquaculture production. Using a mixed method combining a systematic literature analysis by synthesizing 171 articles and a qualitative analysis with information collected from 45 respondents including fishmeal producers, feed producers, feed traders, hatcheries, farmers, shrimp traders, and shrimp processors cum exporters in an emerging economy of Viet Nam, the study reveals that the stakeholders in the value chain are aware of and willing to accept the feed produced from nutrients recovered from waste in aquaculture production. The motivation of each stakeholder to produce or use the feed is conditional on that of other stakeholders. The findings suggest that the removal of conditional motivation cannot be left to the market and government support is needed.