The Future of Protein: Why Anymal Leads the Way

The era of next-generation aquaculture is here. Anymal is transforming fish farming by combining the efficiency of industrial chicken farming with groundbreaking sustainability practices. Anymal is focused on innovation. It emphasizes circular economies and ethical production. This approach sets a new gold standard for global protein production.

Revolutionizing Protein Production: Lessons from Chickens

The transformation of chickens into the world’s most consumed protein source is a remarkable story of innovation, industrialization, and adaptation. It highlights how strategic advancements in genetics, feeding systems, and environmental control revolutionized protein farming, making chicken a cornerstone of global diets. This journey offers valuable lessons for shaping the future of aquaculture.

Key Developments in Chicken Farming

1. Genetic Advancements
   • Decades of selective breeding have transformed chickens into highly efficient protein producers. Early broilers in the 1970s weighed about 1.5-2 kg and took 56-70 days to reach market size. Today, selective breeding allows chickens to grow to 2.5-3 kg in just 35-40 days.
   • However, this rapid growth has raised significant concerns over animal welfare, including skeletal deformities, cardiovascular strain, and ethical issues related to intensive farming practices.
2. Feed Optimization
   • Breakthroughs in feed formulations have significantly improved the Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR)—the amount of feed required to produce 1 kg of growth. The FCR for chickens has improved from 2.5-3 to as low as 1.6-1.8, making them one of the most cost-effective protein sources.
3. Controlled Environments
   • The development of climate-controlled housing revolutionized poultry farming. These environments protect chickens from diseases, extreme weather, and predators while optimizing growth conditions.
   • However, practices like continuous light exposure to maximize feeding cycles have sparked ethical debates regarding animal welfare and natural behavior.

While chicken farming has achieved remarkable efficiency, it also faces growing criticism for its environmental footprint, including nitrogen pollution from waste, overuse of antibiotics, and ethical concerns such as the culling of male chicks. These challenges highlight the need for a more sustainable and ethical approach to protein production.

Anymal: The Next Evolution in Protein Production

Building on the lessons of chicken farming, Anymal represents a next-generation approach to aquaculture that prioritizes sustainability, ethics, and circular economies. It combines the industrial efficiency of poultry farming with modern technologies and environmentally responsible practices to create a scalable solution for global protein demand.

Key Innovations That Set Anymal Apart

1. Genetic Focus
   • Similar to poultry farming’s reliance on selective breeding, Anymal focuses on genetic optimization. Its hybrid catfish, heteroclarias, are bred specifically for rapid growth, exceptional feed efficiency, and resistance to disease. These catfish minimize energy spent on reproduction or aggression, ensuring resources are directed toward growth. This allows fish to reach market size in just four months, comparable to the growth period of broiler chickens.
2. Efficient Feed Systems
   • Anymal prioritizes FCR efficiency, targeting an ambitious level of 0.75 and aiming to remain below 1 to ensure sustainability. This is achieved by replacing traditional small fish like omena with cost-effective, sustainable feed alternatives such as rice bran, moringa, and black soldier fly (BSF) larvae. These alternatives not only reduce reliance on resource-intensive fishmeal but also promote a circular economy by repurposing locally available waste products. This approach lowers production costs, minimizes environmental impact, and keeps FCR exceptionally low
3. Controlled Environments
   • Operating within closed-loop Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS), Anymal ensures optimal water quality, biosecurity, and environmental control. RAS technology minimizes water usage and virtually eliminates the risk of disease outbreaks common in open aquaculture systems.
4. Water Efficiency
   • Anymal achieves remarkable water efficiency by continuously filtering and recirculating water through advanced biofilters within its RAS. These biofilters remove ammonia and other toxins, enabling water reuse. For every 1,000 tons of fish produced, Anymal saves 2-3 billion liters of water annually, a critical innovation for water-scarce regions.
5. High Energy Usage but Fossil-Free
   • Maintaining high water temperatures and ensuring intense water circulation requires significant energy input. However, Anymal uses renewable energy sources like solar power and thermal heating to meet these demands. This approach ensures the system remains entirely fossil-free, aligning with Anymal’s sustainability goals.
6. Circular Economy
   • Anymal turns waste into value by recycling fish waste into BSF larvae and organic fertilizers. This closed-loop system eliminates the environmental impact of waste, unlike the runoff from chicken manure, which often leads to nitrogen pollution.
7. Market Positioning
   • While chicken farming focuses on mass-market affordability, Anymal targets premium markets by delivering live or freshly processed fish. This ensures unmatched freshness and quality, appealing to high-end consumers and chefs. A grading system further enhances accessibility, offering products tailored to diverse market needs.

Building on Chicken Farming’s Legacy

Anymal takes inspiration from chicken farming’s industrial success while addressing its shortcomings. By integrating sustainable practices, ethical considerations, and cutting-edge technologies, Anymal provides a responsible and future-ready alternative for global protein production.

Comparative Summary

Conclusion

Chickens revolutionized protein consumption through industrial efficiency and innovation. Anymal builds on this foundation by addressing the environmental and ethical challenges of traditional farming. Through sustainable practices, circular economies, and advanced technologies, Anymal represents the future of aquaculture—a scalable and responsible solution to the growing global demand for protein.