Alternative Protein Sources in Tilapia Feeds: Perspectives from Africa

Tilapia aquaculture makes important contribution to global food security, especially in developing countries. In Africa, the industry enjoys a wide variety of tilapia species for aquaculture production. Recently, tilapia aquaculture production has witnessed remarkable growth, reaching 6,100,719 tons in 2020 from 379,169 tons in 1990, and is expected to expand further in the coming years. However, as production expands, the increasing demand for conventional protein sources like fishmeal and soybean meals used in tilapia feeds raises sustainability concerns owing to declining fishery resources and the impact of climate changes caused by heavy arable land clearance for production of soybean meal. Consequently, there is a growing need to explore alternative protein sources for tilapia feeds. This chapter explores alternative protein sources such as animal by-products, insect meals, plant proteins (aquatic and terrestrial) and single-cell proteins, some of which are already used but at low levels and others have shown potential for utilization in tilapia feed, focusing on studies conducted in in Africa. This chapter provides insights into the ongoing efforts to enhance the sustainability of tilapia aquaculture in Africa through research on alternative protein sources in feeds.