Skretting launched Necto, a new functional health diet formulated for fish, powered by proprietary EDGEOS PhytoComplexes. With Necto, the focus is on meeting one of the main industry challenges today: safeguarding fish health and welfare.
Supported by many years of research and studies, Necto is the first Skretting product ever to feature commercially PhytoComplexes, representing a significant milestone in Skretting’s innovation journey in fish nutrition. These PhytoComplexes were specially created for use in aquaculture in partnership with Nutreco Exploration, a Nutreco division that specialises in plant research and the development of novel and unique ingredients.
The shift towards resilience
Improving fish and shrimp survival has always been a top priority for the aquaculture industry. As this can be impacted by a multitude of factors, such as stress, environmental issues, and infections, the industry’s focus has shifted from disease resistance to welfare and well-being, with a growing emphasis placed on resilience.
With Necto, Skretting goes beyond traditional feed formulations, setting a new standard in functional diets. In addition to the PhytoComplexes, Necto provides the most advanced composition of functional ingredients, the company said. The combination of these forms a complex, innovative and effective solution that can target multiple pathways to support fish resilience. Necto enables fish to resist stressors affecting fish health and welfare, adapt to challenges and maintain performance, and recover and return to normal function.
A new era within functional feeds
Necto is the result of a collaboration between nine different research partners spanning five different countries. Results from independent third-party studies consistently demonstrate that fish health and welfare were supported, with higher survival rates across several fish species.
Spearheading the research on Necto, Linda Jensen, Skretting’s Team Lead Health, stated that “with Necto, we are harnessing the complexity of plants and combining this with years of experience in health research, to create a truly innovative diet. Necto is a holistic solution that supports fish health and resilience in an unprecedented way.”
“Necto is not just another phytogenic solution; it's a revolution in aquaculture. Through the precise selection and advanced cultivation of certain plants, we have taken a health product's multifunctional performance to the next level,” said Anna Hesby Nessa, Skretting’s Global Product Manager Warm Water Species Health.
“Functional feeds have been used effectively in our industry for several decades, but Necto is completely unique. It is a powerhouse combination of solid nutrition, well-established functional ingredients, and PhytoComplexes, which supports normal immune function and physiological processes in healthy fish, helping them cope with the impacts of inflammation and natural environmental stressors. It represents a truly exciting contributor to integrated fish health management and fish welfare,” concludes Dr Gordon Ritchie, Skretting’s Global Product Manager Salmon Health.
Necto will be available in selected countries from the end of 2025 for fish.
