A collaboration between French retailer Auchan, feed manufacturer BioMar, Ecuadorian shrimp farmer Edpacif, and the Earthworm Foundation has resulted in the development of a new product line that sets a benchmark for responsible shrimp farming. This initiative aims to address customer demand for more sustainable seafood options while prioritizing environmental and social considerations.
The new product line, which will be labelled as Mr. Goodfish, is a culmination of efforts to ensure responsible seafood consumption. Launched in March 2010 in France by Nausicaá, National Sea Centre, the Mr. Goodfish program advocates for responsible feed, optimal farming conditions for animal welfare, and minimizing environmental impact.
Olivier Vandebeulque, Auchan’s seafood manager, highlights the importance of collaboration across the value chain to meet customer demands for more sustainable seafood options. Auchan’s partnership with the Earthworm Foundation underscores their commitment to responsible sourcing and production practices.
BioMar played a crucial role in the project by leveraging its sustainability impact assessment tool, BioSustain LCA, to optimize the carbon footprint of the shrimp feed. A key aspect of this optimization was ensuring that none of the feed ingredients originated from deforested or tropical areas, thereby contributing to positive environmental outcomes.
Moreover, Auchan is piloting innovative approaches to commercialize shrimp products, such as selling trays with only the shrimp tails. This not only reduces the carbon footprint associated with product transport by 40 percent but also promotes circularity in production by repurposing shrimp heads locally in Ecuador for animal feed.
In addition to environmental considerations, the collaboration also integrated a social pillar into the project’s specifications for Ecuadorian shrimp. Florie Loth, Ocean Program manager at Earthworm, emphasizes the importance of social sustainability, highlighting initiatives aimed at improving access to stable employment and enhancing working conditions for local communities in Ecuador.
The new product line, reflecting a holistic approach to sustainability, is now available in French Auchan hypermarkets. This initiative marks a significant step forward in promoting responsible shrimp farming practices while meeting consumer demand for ethically sourced seafood options.
