Commercialization of Direct Recovery of Quebec Marine Co-products and Residues in Processing for Animal Feed

KALŪ is keen to exploit opportunities for innovation in animal feed, with a particular focus on animal proteins and biosourced marine sources with the aim of reducing the environmental footprint associated with the processing of biosourced and responsible packaging (compostable, zero waste). KALŪ focuses primarily on aquatic and biosourced residual matter.

The project to market extruded pet food formulas is based primarily on technical and scientific research into the best purification, drying and transformation processes for reclaimed co-products such as the shells of Nordic prawns, snow crabs and Atlantic lobsters, and natural seaweed siyrces from the Gulf of St. Lawrence, such as kombu and nori. Among the various research and demonstration projects, KALŪ aims to incrementally improve its lobster-based formulas using lobster co-products supplied by other processors.

The choice of suppliers, means of transportation and distribution, packaging, ingredients, manufacturing processes and the recovery of marine co-products are business rules that are interwoven into the KALŪ brand and processes. The transformation of formulas extends to several formulas based on biobased products such as lobster and Nordic shrimp, and hand-caught seaweed such as kombu and nori. KALŪ's upcoming formulas represent the thinking behind the company's constant focus on a way to embody the perpetuation and development of various underused Quebec bioresources with high quality potential into dry and extruded pet food.

Following the model of some Northern shrimp producers who pay to dispose of and spread their residues and co-products, KALŪ is banking on the valorization of Northern shrimp, lobster and snow crab residues and co-products consisting of the shells of tails, heads, legs and small parts of internal organs, eggs and residual flesh attached to the shells. These shrimp, crab and lobster residues are first processed by cooking before being mechanically peeled to extract the tissue. These residual substances are then studied to maximize the benefits and nutritional guarantees offered by the drying process. A large majority of these co-products from other companies remain raw, and therefore unstabilized.

KALŪ's intention is therefore to improve the nutritional qualities of its formulas while guaranteeing its efforts to process them locally and responsibly. The project supports research and regional economic development in Quebec, with the aim of achieving a commercial breakthrough for this form of animal feed co-product. Organic kombu (kelp), whole or dried, will also be processed to create extruded kibble formulas. Kombu and nori, which are harvested by hand, are an excellent source of macro-ingredients that complement good animal biological health. These seaweeds from Océan de Saveurs are organic and certified Sustainable Seafood.