Aug 2026· Animals· Vol 16, pp. 2419· 0 citations· 119 references
Medicine
TL;DR
Edible fungi should be regarded as complementary functional ingredients rather than simple protein replacements, requiring species-specific formulation strategies, standardized ingredient characterization, and validation under commercial farming conditions.
Abstract
Simple Summary Fish farming must increase production while reducing reliance on fishmeal, fish oil and antibiotics. Edible fungi, such as oyster, shiitake and reishi mushrooms, contain bioactive compounds that may support intestinal function, feed utilization, and innate immune responses in fish. This review examines how edible fungi and fungal-derived compounds, especially β-glucans and chitin, may contribute to gut microbiota modulation and immune stimulation in diets for commercially important fish. The available evidence indicates that their biological effects depend strongly on the fish species, ingredient form, dietary inclusion level, processing method and experimental conditions. Omnivorous fish such as tilapia generally tolerate broader inclusion levels, whereas carnivorous salmonids appear to respond more consistently to low dietary levels of extracts or processed fractions. Therefore, edible fungi should be regarded as complementary functional ingredients rather than simple protein replacements, requiring species-specific formulation strategies, standardized ingredient characterization, and validation under commercial farming conditions.
Aquaculture serves as a critical pillar of global food security and human nutrition by providing high-quality protein, essential fatty acids, and efficient feed conversion while minimizing land use. However, its rapid expansion depends heavily on stable supplies of high-quality protein sources, particularly fishmeal (FM), which faces growing instability due to climate change and overfishing. While sustainable alternative protein sources like plant and insect proteins have been explored, high inclusion levels often impair growth and health in aquatic animals, partly due to poor palatability, amino acid (AA) imbalances, low digestibility, and antinutritional factors (ANFs). Precision strategies, especially functional additives, offer a promising solution by targeting these challenges: attractants enhance palatability, crystalline AAs correct AA imbalances, exogenous enzymes improve digestibility, and functional compounds mitigate health impairments. Although research on functional additives for FM replacement lags behind studies on alternative protein sources, theoretical and experimental evidence confirms their potential. Precisely formulated functional additives not only counteract the drawbacks of alternative protein sources or enable higher substitution ratios, underscoring their innovative role in sustainable aquafeed development. This review highlights the targeted use of functional additives to address appetite suppression, AA imbalances, digestive inefficiencies, and health risks, offering actionable insights for researchers, aquaculture nutritionists, and the feed industry to advance both scientific knowledge and practical FM replacement solutions.
Wei-Dan Jiang, Pei Wu, Hong-Yun Zhang et al.· Journal of Animal Science an...· 0 citations
Combining improved feeding strategies, knowledge of gut microorganisms, biological analysis, and automated production could help produce insects with more predictable nutritional properties and support sustainable food and feed production, reduce organic waste, and strengthen circular and resource-efficient agricultural systems.
M. Ezzaitouni, Tarik Chileh Chelh, E. Belarbi et al.· Insects· 0 citations
Simple Summary Fish farming depends on feeds rich in protein, but traditional ingredients can be expensive and raise environmental concerns. Insects are being studied as a more sustainable alternative because they can provide high-quality nutrients while using fewer natural resources. In this study, we tested whether meals made from two insect species, the yellow mealworm and the black soldier fly, could be included in diets for juvenile Nile tilapia. Fish were fed these diets for 82 days, and we evaluated growth, nutrient use, blood health indicators, and survival after exposure to a bacterial infection that commonly affects tilapia farming. The insect-based diets did not reduce fish growth or overall body condition. Fat digestion remained high, while protein digestion varied depending on the insect source. Some blood cell proportions also changed, suggesting that the diets influenced aspects of the fish immune system. After bacterial challenge, fish fed the insect diets showed lower mortality values than the control group, although the differences were not statistically significant. Overall, the results support the use of these insect meals as promising sustainable ingredients for tilapia feeds.
M. Cocato, Eduardo Gianini Abimorad, Leandro Lopes Borges et al.· Insects· 0 citations
Simple Summary Fishmeal remains a key functional ingredient in aquafeeds, yet its limited availability and price volatility have accelerated the transition toward low-fishmeal formulations. However, effective fishmeal reduction requires more than protein replacement, as fishmeal provides essential nutritional and functional components that support growth, nutrient utilization, intestinal integrity, immunity, and stress resistance. This review highlights nutritional strategies that enhance the performance of low-fishmeal diets, including taurine, phosphorus-mobilizing enzymes, protein hydrolysates, fermented ingredients, yeast-derived products, probiotics, minerals, vitamins, and gut health-promoting additives. Within the species, life stages, diet matrices, and experimental conditions represented in the available evidence, future low-fishmeal feeds should be developed through context-specific formulations and validation aimed at restoring the relevant biological functions of fishmeal-based diets rather than through universal ingredient or additive recommendations.
Md. Hashibur Rahman, Hyuncheol Jeon, Haham Kim et al.· Veterinary Sciences· 0 citations
Postharvest losses of horticultural produce, primarily due to microbial decay, remain a major challenge to global food security, accounting for 35–50% of production annually. To control this, overuse of synthetic fungicides has led to pathogen resistance, environmental contamination, and health concerns, prompting a shift toward sustainable biocontrol agents (BCAs). This review comprehensively examines the potential of microbial antagonists (yeasts, bacteria, and fungi), plant-based agents (essential oils and extracts), and natural compounds (e.g., chitosan, alginate, organic acids, etc.) for managing postharvest diseases in fruits and vegetables. Key mechanisms of action including competition for nutrients and space, production of antifungal metabolites and enzymes, biofilm formation, induction of host resistance, and volatile organic compounds are discussed in detail. Application strategies (pre- and postharvest), synergistic integrations with physical/chemical treatments, advantages over conventional pesticides, and major challenges (e.g., formulation stability, regulatory hurdles, and commercialization) are critically analyzed. Emerging approaches such as omics technologies, microbial consortia, genetic engineering, and nanotechnology offer promising avenues to enhance BCA efficacy and consistency. This review highlights successful examples and future perspectives of BCAs in postharvest diseases control setup and more importantly their co-applications together with other natural disease control methods and technologies. Finally, it underscores BCAs as viable, eco-friendly alternatives that can extend shelf life, preserve quality, and support sustainable postharvest management.
Esa Abiso Godana, Gerefa Sefu Edo, Sebahat Oztekin et al.· Frontiers in Nutrition· 0 citations
The increasing demand for sustainable, functional, and health-promoting ingredients in pet nutrition has stimulated growing interest in marine macroalgae (seaweeds) as alternative feed resources for dogs and cats. India, with a coastline exceeding 7,500 km, harbours rich seaweed biodiversity and represents an abundant yet underutilised source of nutritionally valuable biomass. Seaweeds contain diverse bioactive compounds, including polysaccharides such as laminarin, fucoidan, alginate, and agar-derived oligosaccharides, as well as proteins, essential minerals, vitamins, polyphenols, carotenoids, and polyunsaturated fatty acids. These components have been associated with improvements in gastrointestinal health, immune function, antioxidant capacity, and overall physiological well-being. Seaweed-derived polysaccharides exhibit prebiotic properties by promoting beneficial gut microbiota and enhancing the production of short-chain fatty acids, while antioxidant compounds help mitigate oxidative stress and maintain cellular homeostasis. In addition, various seaweed bioactives demonstrate immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activities that may enhance disease resistance and support healthy ageing. Reported benefits also include improved nutrient utilisation, favourable modulation of blood biochemical parameters, enhanced skin and coat condition, better oral health, and increased feed palatability. However, certain seaweed species may accumulate excessive iodine, heavy metals, or other naturally occurring antinutritional factors, necessitating appropriate species selection, processing methods, quality control measures, and optimised dietary inclusion levels. Despite these promising attributes, evidence from companion animal studies remains limited, with much of the current knowledge derived from livestock and laboratory animal models. Overall, this review highlights the considerable potential of seaweeds as sustainable functional ingredients in dog and cat nutrition. Strategic utilisation of India's abundant seaweed resources could support the development of innovative pet foods while contributing to environmental sustainability and the blue economy. Further species-specific research is required to establish standardised products, optimal inclusion rates, long-term safety, and efficacy in companion animals.
Kira n. Shinde, S. P. Muquit, A. Kala et al.· European Journal of Nutritio...· 0 citations
