IFFO is an international trade organisation that represents the marine ingredients industry, such as fishmeal, fish oil and other related industries © IFFO
The IFFO Annual Conference, which concluded on 22 October in Tokyo, brought together industry leaders and scientists for three days of information sharing on market trends, technical innovation, and sustainability updates. Against a backdrop of geopolitical tensions, climate uncertainty, and shifting trade dynamics, attendees reaffirmed their commitment to evidence-based decision-making for the marine ingredients sector.
A central theme of the conference was the critical role of the industry in supporting effective fisheries management measures. The conference also addressed the growing need for realism in how aquafeed ingredients are assessed.
“As the sector evolves and objective facts are gathered, the narrative is shifting: responsible sourcing – rather than the simplistic binary of marine versus plant origin – is a key requirement for ingredient selection,” stated Petter M. Johannessen, IFFO's general director. He added that this marks a significant turning point in how sustainability is defined and measured across the value chain.
According to the IFFO, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) remains a priority approach for the sector, with its holistic methodology offering a robust framework for evaluating environmental impacts across all stages of production.
The conference featured 23 presentations, with key takeaways available on the IFFO’s website.
Looking ahead, IFFO announced that the 2026 Annual Conference will be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina from 19 to 21 October.
