Protein-Enriched Copra Meal to Create Sustainable and Affordable Aquaculture Production

A locally developed feed ingredient, Protein Enriched Copra Meal (PECM), is creating a sustainable and affordable aquaculture production in the Philippines.  Designed as an alternative to costly imported soybean meal, PECM uses copra meal, a by-product in coconut oil production.  And with the Philippines’ abundant coconut supply, this technology can significantly lower productions and reduce reliance on foreign feed inputs.

In aquaculture industry, feeds can account for up to 70 percent of total production expenses. Thus, finding efficient and affordable protein sources is crucial.  PECM addresses this challenge by providing a protein-rich, locally sourced alternative that has reduced feed intake while maintaining healthy fish growth.  Presently, soybean meal is the dominant plant-based protein in fish diets.  These are mostly imported, making feed prices sensitive to global market shifts.

This is being explored through a two-year project, “PECM in Aquaculture Diets for Gut Health Modulation,” funded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) which the University of the Philippines Los Baños is implementing. 

The researchers discovered that the feed also supports gut health in farmed fish by positively influencing their gut microbiota, the community of beneficial bacteria in the digestive system. A balanced gut microbiome is linked to better digestion, disease resistance, and overall immune strength in aquatic animals.  To explore these effects in greater depth, scientists use advanced tools like metagenomics and metabolomics.  These tools provide a deeper and more precise understanding of how feeds like PECM influence fish health at the molecular level, which then offer insights that traditional measurements like growth rate and feed efficiency might miss.