The market
Aquaculture is currently the fastest agricultural sector in the world with an average global growth rate of 6 to 8 %, reaching a global value of $ 86 billion in 2009. While the world's fish sockets are estimated at 100 million Tons and have remained stable for a decade, aquaculture already represents an additional 45.5 million tonnes of fish protein. China produces 70 % of the world's farming fish. All countries producing more than a million tonnes of fish protein are located in Asia (China, India, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia). The production of fish farming has increased by 30 % since 2000, under the leadership of growth in Asia and Latin America, in particular in Chile. Europeans are increasingly turning to seafood, so much so that the European Union already represents 60 % of global imports of fish and crustaceans. Aquaponics, a combination of fish farming and water -based market gardening is still at its beginnings, but represents the highest growth niche in the aquaculture industry. This technique makes it possible to produce proteins in regions where water is rare, such as cities and dry areas. The symbiotic relationship between fish and plants ensures that fish waste is a nutrient for plants, while filtering water. Plant waste is used to feed earthworms, which are used to feed fish. A kilogram of fish food produces 50 kilograms of vegetables and 0.8 kilogram of fish, a most effective conversion. Aquaponics uses between 80 and 90 % less water than traditional aquaculture. Australia is the leader of what is called the Hydroponian culture of Basse-Cour. A company of the same name sells 300 units per year, which makes it possible to produce fish and vegetables without chemicals in the backyard. The Chinese were the pioneers of fish farming 2,500 years before J.-C., the Hawaiians raised fish 1,000 years ago. Aztecs used the aquaponics at the same time to ensure food security around their capital. Aquaculture and aquaponics are still in its infancy in the United States, but they should experience rapid growth in the coming years.
Innovation
While wild fishing is overexploited, aquaculture can cause damage to the environment and endanger the health of populations. Aquaculture is a threat known for coastal areas. About 20 % of mangroves have been destroyed since 1980, mainly due to shrimp breeding. A farm of 100,000 salmon rejects more manure than a city of 30,000 inhabitants. Fish farms often provide antibiotics to fish to prevent diseases and apply chemicals to control the parasites that infest animals, especially salmon. Other fisheries will treat fish with hormones in order to induce a change of sex, thus creating a population exclusively of males. Li Kangmin of Wuxi, China, studied aquaculture for decades and realized that it has converted into a major pollution factor. While he would have expected that industry was the main responsible for contamination of water, it realized that in China, 57 % of nitrogen discharges and 67 % of phosphorus emissions were caused by agriculture and aquaculture. He also realized that antibiotics and chemotherapeutic products in aquatic systems became a major source of pollution for increasingly rare water supply. He concluded that since traditional Chinese medicine (MTC) has greatly contributed to the health of the Chinese people for thousands of years, it could also contribute to healthy aquaculture. Mr. Li notes that the mortality rate of SRAS in China represents only two thirds of the world average and that the maximum cost of the MTC represents only a tenth of Western medicine. He undertook to study the application of this sanitary control system to fish farming. The application of the MTC was used to combat fish parasites in antiquity and has now proven to be effective in the overall management of fish farming. Professor LI notes in particular that the MTC is easily available, commonly used as treatment of aquatic animals, repellents for parasites, growth stimulants, nutraceuticals to strengthen fish immunity, to reduce stress and even to improve the quality of meats. Since the MCT is based on natural resources that are part of biodiversity, the promotion of these components is a change to protect plants and animals threatened in China.
The first cash flow
Although the tests and tests in China are convincing, the first cash flow abroad was generated by salmon farming. The question of contaminants in breeding salmon caught the attention of the world when a study published in the journal Science revealed that researchers have found higher BPC and dioxins concentrations in farming fish than in wild species. However, the Atlantic Biological Breeding Salmon has a significantly lower quantity of dioxins and BPC compared to the fish left to rest in the scientific study. These facts have prompted fish farmers around the world to study alternatives to chemical controls, based on the MTC, while reducing costs and guaranteeing less risks.
The opportunity
The certification of sustainable aquaculture products is limited to “chemical” or “hormone” products. Although it is certainly a step forward, we expect that a label indicating that the health of the fish is guaranteed by "traditional Chinese medicine" is accepted on the market. While homeopathy and traditional medicine have importance worldwide, the use of a guarantee that natural medicine was the basis of food production would indeed be an innovative approach. Although the MTC cannot always prove the same "cause and effect" as that prescribed by Western medicine, we know that it has fewer involuntary consequences and that it therefore offers an integrated approach which not only ensures the quality of Fish, but also the health of consumers since none of the ingredients will remain persistent and active for long periods. This is probably an opportunity for the West to meet the Orient and ensure food security for future generations.
