Insect-derived ingredients are gaining attention as sustainable alternatives to traditional aquafeed proteins—but their potential may go far beyond nutrition. New research from Innovafeed and Onda is exploring whether black soldier fly larvae-derived ingredients could also provide functional benefits, including antibacterial activity against pathogens relevant to aquaculture.

Discover what the results could mean for the future of more resilient, multifunctional aquafeeds.

What is the true cost of mouth rot to B.C. salmon farming? New economic modelling estimates that bacterial stomatitis could cost the B.C. Atlantic salmon industry USD $10.58 million annually—and the real impact may be even greater.

From earlier diagnostics and vaccine development to functional feeds and better understanding of environmental triggers, the path forward may be less about treating outbreaks and more about preventing them.

Explore what this research means for the future of fish health in B.C. salmon farming.

A single graph can reveal a lot about how Tenacibaculum maritimum infection progresses in Atlantic salmon—and why timing matters when evaluating potential solutions.

This experimental challenge shows mortality remaining relatively low early on before accelerating dramatically later in the study, reaching approximately 78% cumulative mortality by Day 32.

But the real question isn’t simply how many fish survive. It’s whether an intervention can change the curve.

Explore what this mortality curve tells us about disease progression, challenge models and evaluating vaccines, functional feeds and other strategies against T. maritimum.

What if the value of insect-derived ingredients extends beyond protein?

As aquaculture feed manufacturers look for alternatives to traditional protein sources, the focus is increasingly shifting toward ingredients that can deliver additional functional benefits. In a recent collaboration, Innovafeed and Onda evaluated the antibacterial potential of a black soldier fly larvae (BSFL)-derived ingredient against bacterial pathogens relevant to aquaculture.

The results demonstrated measurable growth inhibition against Aeromonas, Flavobacterium, Photobacterium and Vibrio, with significant reductions in bacterial burden observed for Flavobacterium psychrophilum and Photobacterium damselaeunder controlled laboratory conditions.

Explore the case study to see how functional screening can help uncover the potential of next-generation aquafeed ingredients.

Onda is proud to announce that its FeedTech Division has achieved FeedAssure® certification, reinforcing its commitment to quality, traceability, and excellence in aquaculture feed manufacturing and research.

This nationally recognized certification demonstrates that Onda meets rigorous industry standards for feed safety, ingredient sourcing, manufacturing controls, documentation, sanitation, and continuous improvement. Building on its established Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) quality systems, FeedAssure® certification further strengthens Onda's ability to deliver reliable, high-quality feed production services for clients around the world.

As a trusted contract research organization, Onda manufactures both commercial and custom experimental diets while supporting feed manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, pharmaceutical companies, and aquaculture producers with research that accelerates product development and commercialization. FeedAssure® certification provides clients with greater confidence in the integrity, traceability, and consistency of every feed produced, helping ensure research results are generated under a recognized quality framework.

This achievement reflects the dedication and collaboration of Onda's FeedTech, Quality Assurance, and technical teams, whose commitment to operational excellence continues to advance innovation in aquaculture nutrition.

When developing vaccines, functional feeds, therapeutics, or selective breeding programs, the challenge model you choose can significantly influence your results. In this article, we explore why different Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis Virus (IPNV) isolates produce different disease outcomes—and why testing against the right strain is essential for generating meaningful efficacy data. Learn how Onda's unique access to Chilean, Scottish, and Norwegian IPNV isolates helps clients develop products with greater confidence for their target markets.

Research accessibility is about more than sharing knowledge—it's about making research possible. In this month's article, Scientific Advisor Julianna Stangroom explores how Onda is helping strengthen Canada's aquaculture research ecosystem by providing specialized facilities, expertise, biological materials, and collaborative support that enable critical scientific advances. From supporting university researchers to helping respond to aquatic animal health challenges, discover how Onda is contributing to a more connected, capable, and innovative future for Canadian aquaculture research.

We're excited to announce that Onda's FeedTech division has officially achieved FeedAssure certification, reinforcing our commitment to quality, safety, and excellence in feed manufacturing. This milestone reflects months of hard work by our FeedTech and Quality Assurance teams to strengthen our quality management systems, manufacturing processes, traceability, and continuous improvement programs. Learn what FeedAssure certification means for our clients and how it provides greater confidence in the consistency, reliability, and quality of every feed produced for nutrition trials, experimental diets, and feed ingredient development.

In honour of Canada Day, test your knowledge on Canada!

Behind every breakthrough in fish health is a research model that consistently reproduces disease under controlled conditions. Learn why reliable challenge models are essential for developing vaccines, functional feeds, and other innovations that help combat Cardiomyopathy Syndrome (CMS) in Atlantic salmon.

The journey from freshwater to seawater is one of the most critical stages in salmon production. Discover why successful smoltification has such a significant impact on fish health, survival, and long-term production performance, and how new research and diagnostic tools are helping producers reduce risk before fish enter the marine environment.

When it comes to understanding disease in aquaculture, pathogen exposure is rarely a simple yes-or-no event. Researchers use dose-response studies to determine how increasing pathogen levels influence disease severity, mortality, and fish health outcomes. These studies form the foundation of reliable challenge models that support the development of vaccines, functional feeds, and other preventative health strategies.

Read the full article to learn how challenge models help researchers better understand pathogen behaviour and bridge the gap between laboratory research and real-world aquaculture production.

What if you could understand how fish are responding to stress, disease, nutrition, or environmental change before visible signs appear? Proteomics is an emerging research tool that provides a real-time snapshot of physiological activity by analyzing changes in protein expression. As aquaculture moves toward more preventative and data-driven health management strategies, proteomics is offering new opportunities to better understand fish performance, resilience, and disease response.

Tilapia has long been recognized for its resilience, but climate change is creating new challenges that producers can no longer afford to ignore. Rising water temperatures, worsening water quality, and increasing disease pressure are impacting fish health, growth performance, and farm profitability across major production regions. In our latest article, we explore how climate-driven stressors are affecting tilapia production and why preventative health management is becoming essential for long-term industry sustainability.

A survival curve might look simple—but it tells a much deeper story. From dose response to timing of mortality, this data reveals what really determines whether a product succeeds or fails in the real world.

Fish welfare is no longer happening behind the scenes—it’s shaping public perception, regulatory scrutiny, and ultimately, market access. What was once a compliance checkbox is now a commercial risk. Here’s why the industry needs to rethink its approach.

Can insect-based ingredients transform salmon nutrition?

In our latest collaboration with Innovafeed, early trial results point to strong growth performance and promising antibacterial activity in Atlantic salmon fed black soldier fly larvae meal. As the industry look for sustainable, functional feed solutions, these finding highlight a compelling step forward.

Read the full press release to explore the results and what they could mean for the future of aquaculture.

As aquaculture grows, so does the pressure to reduce antibiotic use without compromising fish health. With antimicrobial resistance on the rise, the industry is shifting from treatment to prevention—driving innovation in feeds, vaccines, and functional ingredients.

But innovation alone isn’t enough. The future depends on proving what works before it reaches the farm.

Read more to see how science, validation, and new technologies are reshaping fish health management.