Development of functional fish feed based on bioactive compounds of marine and herbal origin (FEEDACTIV)

Short description of the project: FEEDACTIV is a three-year project funded by Horizon Europe under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) aimed at developing innovative aquaculture feed based on natural bioactive compounds that boost the immune system of farmed fish.

Tangible results: The project successfully identified promising plant- and algae-derived bioactive compounds, creating an inventory of candidate species and extracting their ingredients using green technologies such as microwaves, ultrasounds, pressurised liquid extraction, and hydrodistillation. Nine extracts were tested in vitro against four major aquaculture pathogens, leading to the selection of eucalyptus and olive leaf extracts for in vivo dietary trials in sea bass, where low-dose olive leaf extract showed positive effects on growth, and high‑dose eucalyptus improved disease resistance against Aeromonas veronii. Health assessments of C. carpio and D. labrax confirmed the suitability of specimens for experimental trials. Significant advances were achieved in micro‑ and nanoencapsulation technologies, with optimised spray‑drying and electrospinning methods and high-performance biopolymeric matrices, particularly zein, demonstrating strong protection, stability, and controlled-release capabilities for key bioactives. Ongoing work is scaling up these encapsulation systems and refining their integration into aquafeed formulations, laying the groundwork for practical application in sustainable aquaculture.

Application/relevance: The project will improve the productivity of European aquaculture with environmental, economic and social acceptance through an international and inter-sectoral network of organisations.