Using U.S. soybeans helps reduce by 200 kg of CO₂/ton of feed

Tilapia is among the most commonly farmed freshwater fish species in Viet Nam, particularly mono-sex tilapia and red tilapia (also known as Dieu Hong fish). During the farming process, nutrition plays a decisive role in determining fish quality and growth rate. Therefore, selecting appropriate feed sources that ensure balanced nutrition and are environmentally friendly is becoming an essential direction for Viet Nam's fisheries sector.

As the sector moves toward sustainable development, shifting to feed ingredients that meet international standards and have clear origins, such as U.S. soybeans and soybean meal, is considered a strategic solution.

In practice, models that use feed certified under the "Sustainable Soybean" standard have helped improve tilapia quality, reduce production costs, and meet strict requirements from major export markets, such as the U.S., the EU, and Japan. In Tu Ky district (Hai Phong), Viet Nhat Group's 7-ha tilapia farm is becoming a bright spot in the production chain toward green export.

Mr. Bui Ngoc Thanh, Aquaculture Technical Director of the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) in Viet Nam, stated, "We are witnessing a clear trend of green transition in agriculture in general and fisheries in particular. Even in the fields of animal feed and aquaculture feed, this shift is becoming increasingly strong, accompanied by requirements for using more environmentally friendly and sustainable ingredients."

"And most evidently, this trend is reflected in international certifications such as GlobalGAP, BAP, and ASC. These standards have constantly evolved with increasingly stringent requirements for raw material sources. Previously, certifications mainly focused on food safety and product quality, but they now include additional criteria related to sustainability and environmental responsibility," Mr. Thanh added.

Mr. Thanh provided an example: "In 2025, a clear shift can be seen in the aquaculture feed sector. In particular, ASC standards now require farms seeking ASC certification to use ASC-certified feed. At the same time, for feed to be certified, all ingredients used at a rate above 1% must have clear traceability and meet sustainability criteria. This is concrete evidence of the strong transformation occurring across the entire seafood production chain."

For U.S. soybeans, sustainability is not a new concept. Since the 1980s, the U.S. soybean industry has adopted sustainable cultivation and production practices that have been maintained for decades. The goal is to create raw materials for animal and aquaculture feed that are highly sustainable, have low carbon emissions, and comply with international sustainability certifications. These are requirements in today’s global markets.

"For instance, using U.S. soybeans in aquaculture feed production can help reduce by about 200 kg of carbon emissions per ton of feed, making remarkable contributions to the goal of reducing emissions across the supply chain," Mr. Thanh emphasized.

In addition, U.S. soybeans offer higher digestibility compared to many other soybean sources. This characteristic helps fish and shrimp absorb nutrients more efficiently, thereby reducing waste discharged into the environment and contributing to improving the quality of the aquaculture environment.

According to Mr. Thanh, many people still believe that aquaculture feed must contain fishmeal or must be produced from fishmeal sources. However, the reality has changed significantly. The aquaculture feed industry is undergoing a substantial shift toward new formulations, with manufacturers increasingly proactive in advancing technology and nutritional formulations to meet the rapid growth demands of the industry.

The global aquaculture sector has seen awe-inspiring growth over the past decades. Over the past 10 years, global aquaculture output has increased from approximately 74 million tons to nearly 100 million tons, reflecting the sector's strong, consistent growth. Global aquaculture feed output has now reached nearly 60 million tons. Clearly, natural fishmeal resources cannot meet the demand for production and expansion in aquaculture.

"Therefore, soybeans and soybean meal have become key ingredients with the capacity to effectively replace fishmeal in aquaculture feed formulations, ensuring adequate nutrition while contributing to sustainable development across the entire production chain," emphasized Mr. Bui Ngoc Thanh, USSEC Aquaculture Technical Director in Viet Nam.