Page 29 - Food&Drink August 2022 magazine

CSIRO, now in its second year. “It is researching improving
fish health, fat content, and the omega sixes and threes; essentially the overall quality of the flesh,” Anderson says.
Aquna is trialling different fish feeds to see how they impact health, growth, and in particular the flavour of the fish.
Anderson recalls when chef Heston Blumenthal visited Aquna’s Bilbul farm.
“He picked up a piece of fish food and actually ate it. He wanted to taste it to see if it would have a positive or negative impact on the, on the flesh.
“He said, “Oh, that’ll make it taste quite okay”,” he says
Experimentation with maintaining water quality is ongoing, ensuring the right balance of algae bacteria, protozoa, and plankton in the pond waters.
“The balance in the water helps promote the cleanliness of the fish and oxygenation; if the rightbalanceofalgaeisthere,
it will produce oxygen for the fish as it photosynthesises,” Anderson explains.
“Not only does it not grow anywhere else in the world, but it also doesn’t grow anywhere else in Australia.
“From a product integrity point of view, we want you to be able to know who its mother and father is, how it has been treated in the water, and what has been in that water.
“We are one of the only fish farms in the world that doesn’t use antibiotics in our grow out systems.
“We want consumers to know what the fish has been fed, how it has been harvested, how it has been humanely treated until from the day it is born until the day it hits your dinner plate.
“Therealityisit’sa
4
INTEGRITY
Anderson says that when eating Aquna cod, you are eating one of the rarest fine dining fish in the world – at the moment.
Aquna’s Murray cod is grown in open ponds that mimic its natural environment.
magnificent icon of Australia,” says Anderson.
The company has experienced the issues many businesses have faced in recent years – Covid disruptions and associated impacts to the supply chain and export markets, a shortage of skilled labour and difficulties sourcing capital equipment.
Aquna’s processing capacity has been hindered due to equipment coming from overseas being delayed due to supply chain issues. The company said it is now installed andoncefullyoperationalwill
see a “huge increase” in processing capacity and ability to supply the grocery channel.
The cod is now stocked in selected Woolworths, Coles and Harris Farm stores,
This summer will see Aquna trial its first free range grow out ponds, which will involve growing fish in ponds without cages. The outcomes of this will determine production systems down the track.
The expansion of its Whitton site is underway and the addition of 16 ponds expected to becompletedthissummer. ✷
MEAT, FISH & POULTRY
NEW 36pp brochure now available. Contact us to get your FREE copy.
Industrial Door Solutions
M.T.I. Qualos Pty. Ltd. are leaders in the manufacturing and service of Industrial Transparent Flexible Doors, Insulated Traffic Doors, and Roll-Fast Doors.
We produce to the highest quality standard within a full range of industrial doors to suit any door application.
Contact our team
today to find a solution for you.
M.T.I. Qualos Pty. Ltd.
55 Northern Road, West Heidelberg, Vic. 3081 Tel: 1300 135 539
E: sales@mtiqualos.com.au
W: www.mtiqualos.com.au
SeeThru_HalfHoriz135x195.indd 1
www.foodanddrinkbusiness.com.au | August 2022 | Food&Drink business | 29
7/12/2015 2:16 pm
C C l l e e a a r r l ly y t t h he e b b e e s s t t