Dr M.L. Jat Unveils ICAR-CIFRI ‘Waste to Wealth’ Technology to Transform Agro-Industrial Waste into Sustainable Fish Feed

13 July 2026, Barrackpore

In a landmark initiative to promote sustainable aquaculture and strengthen India's circular economy, the ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore, unveiled its flagship publication, "Waste to Wealth: Converting Agro-Industrial Waste into Cost-Effective, Sustainable Fish Feed—A Circular Economy for Aquaculture." The publication was released by Dr M.L. Jat, Secretary, DARE and Director General, ICAR, in the presence of Dr D.K. Yadav, Deputy Director General (Crop Science), ICAR, and Dr Pradip Dey, Director, ICAR-CIFRI.

Addressing the gathering, Dr Jat emphasized that converting agricultural waste into value-added aquaculture inputs is a transformative approach that strengthens resource efficiency, enhances farmers' income, and supports sustainable growth of the fisheries sector. He commended ICAR-CIFRI's Waste to Wealth initiative as a shining example of science-driven innovation that aligns with the national vision of a circular economy, climate-resilient agriculture, and the Blue Economy.

Dr Yadav emphasized that the Waste to Wealth initiative represents a significant advancement in harnessing agro-industrial by-products as alternative feed resources, paving the way for innovative, low-cost, and sustainable solutions in aquaculture production.

Developed by the Waste to Wealth Team the publication documents over 15 years of pioneering research focused on converting agro-industrial by-products into nutritionally balanced, affordable, and environmentally sustainable fish feed. The innovation addresses one of the biggest challenges in aquaculture high feed costs while reducing dependence on conventional feed ingredients and promoting efficient utilization of agricultural residues.

The technology has successfully harnessed a diverse range of agro-industrial wastes, including rice bran, tapioca waste, oil cakes, brewer's spent grain, Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae, and silkworm pupae meal, to produce high-performance feeds for freshwater aquaculture. Field demonstrations have delivered impressive results, achieving 20–30% reduction in feed costs, replacement of 75–100% fish meal, and 15–20% higher fish production, with an estimated annual economic benefit of ₹1,200–1,400 crore for India's aquaculture sector.

ICAR-CIFRI has also developed an array of innovative feed products under this initiative, including CIFRI CAGE GROW floating feed, the Reshmeen™ feed series, Black Soldier Fly larvae-based feed, silkworm pupae meal formulations, functional fish feeds, and specialised ornamental fish feeds. These technologies have been successfully validated for major Indian carps such as Catla, Rohu and Mrigal, besides tilapia, pangasius and ornamental fishes.

Designed for widespread adoption, the production technology is scalable from 0.5 tonnes per day for small entrepreneurs to commercial production of up to 50,000 tonnes annually, supported by standardized processing protocols that ensure quality, safety, nutrient consistency and reliable performance.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Dey, Director, ICAR-CIFRI, said that the Waste to Wealth initiative exemplifies ICAR-CIFRI's commitment to science-led innovations that make aquaculture more profitable, resource-efficient and environmentally sustainable. He noted that by transforming agro-industrial waste into valuable fish feed, the technology not only lowers production costs but also creates rural livelihood opportunities, strengthens environmental stewardship and contributes significantly to India's Blue Economy.

The initiative represents a major stride towards sustainable aquaculture by integrating waste recycling, resource efficiency and climate-resilient technologies. Aligned with the Government of India's vision for Atmanirbhar Bharat, Blue Economy, and circular economy-based agricultural development, the technology is expected to accelerate sustainable fish production while advancing food and nutritional security and rural prosperity.

(Source: ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore)