Future-proof protein

PEKILO®Aqua is the aquafeed ingredient of the future. Sustainably produced using agri- or forest industry by-products, it boasts 65% crude protein content and high levels of nucleotides and beta-glucans.

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PEKILO®Aqua fact sheet

Protein

Protein – Up to 65% of highly digestible crude protein. PEKILO®Aqua is your drop-in replacement for conventional aquafeed protein concentrates. More than 85% protein digestibility in Atlantic salmon, more than 88% protein digestibility in rainbow trout.

Beta-glucan

High levels (15%) of beta-glucan, a well-known immunostimulant. Studies at NMBU University show immune activation by PEKILO®Aqua beta-glucan in Atlantic salmon.

Nucleotides

High levels (>10%) of nucleotides with optimal composition of purine/pyrimidine bases. Nucleotides especially enhance the rapid growth of juvenile salmon. The nucleotides in PEKILO®Aqua are highly digestible (~ 92%) and 
readily available to support fish growth.

Applications

PEKILO®Aqua's properties make is particularly suitable for carnivorous fish, requiring high levels of digestible protein. It can also boost fish growth and health.

since2020

PEKILO®Aqua is born

Funded under the EMFF 2020 Blue Economy Window call, PEKILO®Aqua project advances the launch of Enifer’s PEKILO®Aqua mycoprotein as a sustainabe alternative to soy in aquafeed.

Supported by a €1.2M BlueInvest Grant, PEKILO®Aqua project’s overall objective is to bring to market a novel, cost-competitive, locally produced, and sustainable aquaculture feed protein ingredient for use as an alternative to soy protein concentrate.

The project supports the R&D for production technology, feeding trials, and advances the regulatory approval and business development to bring PEKILO®Aqua to the aquafeed market.

Joost Matthijssen
Director of Venturing
Nutreco’s breakthrough investment arm,
NuFrontiers

I’m proud to see that we are one step closer to bringing a new raw material to the aquaculture industry. For aquaculture to be able to grow, we absolutely need new and sustainable protein raw materials that can be produced in large volumes. We are excited to work with Enifer on this exciting product and to see the value a scientific validation trial can generate for a startup in this phase of its development.

Read about Enifer winning the 2020 Nutreco Feed & Food Tech Challenge

PEKILO®Aqua Timeline

2021

Collaboration with Skretting, the aquaculture business line of Nutreco, begins

After winning the Nutreco Feed Tech Challenge in 2020, Enifer produces the first 100kg of PEKILO®Aqua for Skretting’s Atlantic salmon trials. Core patents for PEKILO®Aqua filed.

2023

Suitable for modern commercial fish feed

Nutreco’s trials show that that PEKILO®Aqua is suitable for modern commercial fish feed.

Improved salmon growth and health

Trials at NMBU University in Norway show that PEKILO®Aqua’s unique composition, containing high nucleotide and beta-glucan levels, can improve salmon growth and health.

2024

Improved growth in shrimp

Trials conducted in collaboration with AquaBioTech show that incorporating PEKILO®Aqua into the diets of white leg shrimp leads to improved growth.

2027

Commercial PEKILO®Aqua

First 10 kiloton PEKILO®Aqua plant expected to come online.

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