Gains confidence in the market

Jarle Ravndal is feed performance analyst at Cargill. He has worked extensively with big-scale feed trials in the form of field trials at sea, either with customers or in their own plant at the innovation center in Dirdal.

Why do you put the fish first in the work you do?
In the feed trials we conduct, it’s important that the fish thrive for us to measure how the feed works. Fish welfare and the fish’s stress level affect the quality of the research results we arrive at. If this is not observed, we might end up with insufficient or wrong results.

 … and how do you do it, specifically?
Fish need the best environment possible. Certain aspects we cannot influence, such as weather and wind conditions. Exterior factors such as noise and disturbances must be minimised as a stressed fish will easily get sick. Meanwhile, a nutritionally balanced feed has a positive effect. We have developed a broad spectre of products to maintain this.

What would happen if you did not prioritize fish health and fish welfare in your work?
If we didn’t prioritise, we wouldn’t achieve comparable results in our tests, and then we wouldn’t gain any confidence in the market. Good fish health and
welfare provide more realistic and consistent results.

What are the benefits of prioritising fish health and welfare, and for whom?
Among other things you have a safer and more robust fish and production. We often make choices that are somewhat costly in the short term but will have a good effect in the long term. Consequently, it’s important not to be tempted by short-term profit. 

Why should Fish First be an important focus area for the whole of Cargill?
Fish First provides us with a clear focus as an organization. It’s easy to forget that there are many people working here who actually never see a fish during their workday. At the same time, we depend on everyone being aware of what is important to the fish biologically speaking, and to upscale this to a large production. The aim is to create the best feed to produce the best fish. Which means we must conduct the right experiments in the right way.”