That Salmon Filet You Bought Has a Secret History That Starts in a Cornfield
The price of your farmed salmon is increasingly tied to the cost of soybeans and corn. Explore the hidden economics of aquaculture feed and why its volatile jou
By Foodie Pundit Newsroom - Published - Updated - Section: Agriculture Supply
Key points
- The price of farmed salmon is increasingly determined by the cost of land-based animal feed ingredients like soy and corn, not just ocean conditions.
- Global events like droughts in South America or surges in biofuel demand directly impact seafood prices by affecting the agricultural commodity markets.
- The aquaculture industry is heavily investing in novel feed ingredients like insect protein and algal oil to reduce volatility and improve sustainability.
- While fishmeal from wild-caught anchovies is a smaller portion of feed now, its high price and volatile supply still create significant market shocks.
- The complex, international supply chain for fish feed, from farm to mill to fish, introduces numerous points for cost increases and logistical risks.
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Sources and methodology
Reported from the public datasets below.
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