© Skretting
The partnership aims to increase flexibility in feed formulation while offering shrimp farmers in Vietnam and other markets low-carbon, responsibly produced feed solutions. The companies state that the initiative represents one of the first large-scale applications of insect meal in shrimp feed in Asia and the first commercial shrimp feed in Vietnam to include the ingredient.
According to Skretting, commercial production of shrimp feed containing the insect protein, known as H-Meal, began in November 2025. There are plans to expand to additional species and markets in the near future.
“The integration of insect meal into shrimp feed is a major step in building a more sustainable aquaculture value chain,” said Duco Onnes, managing director of Nutreco Vietnam, in a press release. “Partnering with Entobel allows us to deliver high-performance nutrition to our customers in a more environmentally friendly way.”
Insect-based ingredients provide proven sustainability benefits for the aquaculture industry. Based on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) analysis, insect meal can have a low carbon profile – currently just over 1 kg CO₂/kg and moving closer to the <1 kg target. This aligns with the WWF Basket Blueprint. By converting food by-products into high-value nutrients, this ingredient helps reduce waste and reliance on marine resources.
Through its integration into commercial products, Skretting and Entobel aim to lower the forage fish dependency ratio (FFDR), maintain strong growth when used in balanced diets, and improve supply-chain sustainability for farmers.
“We are proud to partner with Skretting to prove that sustainability and performance can go hand in hand,” said Alexandre de Caters, co-founder of Entobel. “This collaboration demonstrates how circular innovation can ease pressure on our oceans and strengthen the food value chain.”
Skretting’s trials confirm that insect meal delivers consistent growth rates, efficient feed conversion, and nutritional value comparable to traditional marine ingredients. Internal research also indicates that this ingredient may offer functional benefits due to natural components such as chitin and lauric acid – both of which play important roles in aquaculture nutrition.
