MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, U.S. — Cargill is expanding its offerings of sustainable alternatives to fishmeal in aquafeed with a new agreement with White Dog Labs.

The deal secures access to ProTyton, White Dog Labs’ single-cell protein produced by fermentation with corn feedstock, a sustainable alternative to harvesting fishmeal, which, like fishmeal, is high in protein and amino acids. ProTyton will be ready to ship from White Dog Labs’ demo facility in Sutherland, Nebraska, U.S., in 2020.

“This agreement underlines our commitment to sustainable aquaculture and discovering new and strategic ingredients that will help feed the world in a safe and responsible way,” said Adriano Marcon, president of Cargill’s aqua nutrition business. “ProTyton offers a good source of protein for fish and shrimp, an affordable feed ingredient for farmers and a sustainable option for the planet that lessens our reliance on fishmeal — which we know to be a finite resource.”

Cargill plans to begin offering ProTyton in salmon feed, with the possibility of expanding to shrimp and other species as White Dog Labs’ production volume increases. In trials, salmon fed a diet containing ProTyton achieved a growth performance comparable to salmon on a conventional diet.

“We’re honored to partner with Cargill to lead the industry in the application of highly scalable, alternative proteins for aquaculture,” said Bryan Tracy, chief executive officer, White Dog Labs.

Made up of 80% protein, ProTyton offers higher protein content than typical fishmeal. And like fishmeal, ProTyton offers an attractive amino acid profile with 40% essential amino acids — those the animal cannot produce that must be supplied by the diet. White Dog Labs noted ProTyton is economical because it has a co-product, MiruTyton, which shares its production costs.

White Dog Labs’ MiruTyton is a liquid feed additive that is rich in butyrate, which promotes healthy digestion and boosts energy. Trials have indicated that MiruTyton in livestock diets supports higher growth rates and a better feed conversion ratio than when fed a normal diet.

Cargill’s newest partnership with White Dog Labs follows its late-June partnership with InnovaFeed to scale up and jointly market fish feed made with insect protein.

Cargill said it marks another step in its journey to find new, sustainable ways to feed the growing planet.

White Dog Labs was established in 2012 to address global challenges, including food sustainability and climate change, and is funded by Musea Ventures, the investment arm of the Somekh family.