Join Jose Ramirez as he explores how advances in feed technology are reshaping aquaculture economics by tackling one of the industry’s biggest costs — feed. It highlights how innovations in feed processing improve nutrient retention and feed quality, boosting fish and shrimp performance. The discussion also covers sustainability gains, from reducing nutrient runoff and water pollution to lowering the carbon footprint of feed production. Finally, producers are encouraged to track key indicators such as feed conversion, growth rates, and environmental impact to ensure their feed strategy is truly optimizing production.

In this podcast, Dr. Francisco Domingues unpacks the complex challenge of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDV), a highly contagious disease that continues to impact swine production due to its rapid spread and severe impact on piglet mortality. While farm-level biosecurity is well-known, feed has emerged as a critical but often overlooked vector for PEDV transmission. Research shows that PEDV can survive in certain feed ingredients—especially those of animal origin or with high moisture content—making the entire supply chain a point of vulnerability. Dr. Domingues emphasizes the importance of practical interventions, such as thermal processing, use of feed mitigants, and strict transport protocols to reduce contamination risk.

In this Frankly Speaking episode, host Andra Powell is joined by Dr. Amy Lin and Simon Hall to explore what sustainability truly means in poultry production — with a focus on economics, not just the environment. They discuss how feed accounts for up to 80% of production costs and how improving feed conversion, reducing microbial loads, and implementing feed sanitizers can drive profitability. The conversation highlights actionable strategies producers can implement today, like enhancing biosecurity and tracking feed performance metrics, to create economically sustainable operations that also support bird health and efficiency. It’s a must-listen for forward-thinking poultry producers.