F3 Future of Fish Feed is an endorsed UN Ocean Decade Action.
OVERVIEW
Fish farming, or aquaculture, provides more than half of the world’s seafood and is critical for global protein availability.
But many of our most popular seafood choices such as salmon, rely heavily on wild-caught marine ingredients in feeds such as fishmeal, fish oil and krill.
This is concerning because most wild catch fisheries are at their limit or declining, causing aquaculture to have supply chain issues: shortages, rising feed prices, and destabilizing production.
In 2023, there was a shortage of Peruvian anchoveta and an abrupt closure of the fishery. At that time, many feed companies scrambled for substitute ingredients, and many ingredients were sold out. As a result, the production of many farmed fish species also declined, while consumers faced rising prices.
If wild catch disappears or is diminished, without any change in technology, we can project that large segments of finfish aquaculture will also decline, decreasing the variety of fish available on our plates.
The failure of these fisheries would result in a knock-on effect of large ecosystem collapses, since this wild catch comprises ⅓ of global fisheries, and sustains seabirds, marine mammals and many popular wild caught fish such as salmon, cod, and tuna.
We need to take action now to future-proof both farmed and wild seafood.
- Industry needs to conduct R&D now, so that there are nutritionally equivalent substitute ingredients that are well-functioning. With viable contingency plans, aquaculture will be better future-proofed, and can continue to grow.
- These new ingredients can also take the pressure off wild fisheries, and safeguard ocean ecosystems for future generations.
THE CURRENT F3 CHALLENGE: Fish FARMS
This F3 Fish Farm Challenge will recognize and reward farmers that successfully produce and sell the most carnivorous farm-raised fish fed without any marine animal ingredients (no fishmeal, fish oil, krill, squid, etc). There are 2 contests: a 2 Year contest and a 4 Year contest.
It is assumed that the fish may be sold at a higher price, implying there is market differentiation. This differentiation may come from having a positive story behind the product.
Who Can Participate
The contest is open to farms that grow and sell carnivorous finfish using feeds free of marine animal ingredients. Prize money will be awarded to the registered Farm but the Farm can lead a team that may include ingredient suppliers, feed companies, and other partners. Feed or ingredient companies can join multiple teams. Prior winners of the main F3 cash prize cannot lead a team (though they may still participate as members).
APPROVALS:
- If Farms are not selling salmonids, then they must obtain prior approval from the F3 Team that the species that they intend to farm qualifies as ‘carnivorous’.
- All Farms must be able to sell their fish in approved countries. If they cannot, they need to obtain prior approval from the F3 Team that they can participate.
How to Win
This fifth F3 Fish Farm Challenge (the “Challenge”) will recognize and reward fish farming companies (“Farmers”) that successfully produce and sell the most farm-raised, carnivorous finfish fed without any marine animal ingredients (no fishmeal, fish oil, krill, squid, etc) starting either from the start of the fry stage or when groomed to 25g (the “F3 Fry Stage”). Such fish, when grown to market size, are referred to as (the “F3 Fish Product“).
- 2 YEAR CONTEST – The Sponsor shall award:
- The eligible Farm Entrant (or Team, as applicable) who has Sold the greatest amount, by weight, of F3 Fish Product during the 2 Year Contest Sales Period $90,000 (USD). The winning Farm Entrant (or Team, as applicable) will be honored at a meeting, and the Sponsors will provide the Farm Entrant (or Team, as applicable) a $5,000 travel grant for one individual from the winning Farm Entrant (or other Team member) to attend and participate in that meeting.
- A special award of $10K USD will be given to the eligible Atlantic Salmon (salmo salar) Farm Entrant, registered for the 2 Year Contest, that Sold the most salmo salar F3 Fish Product during the 2 Year Contest Sales Period.
- 4 YEAR CONTEST – The Sponsor shall award:
- The eligible Farm Entrant (or Team, as applicable) who has Sold the greatest amount, by weight, of F3 Fish Product during the 4 Year Contest Sales Period $90,000 (USD). The winning Farm Entrant (or Team, as applicable) will be honored at a meeting, and the Sponsors will provide the Farm Entrant (or Team, as applicable) a $5,000 travel grant for one individual from the winning Farm Entrant (or other Team member) to attend and participate in that meeting.
- A special award of $10K USD will be given to the eligible Atlantic Salmon (salmo salar) Farm Entrant (or Team), registered for the 4 Year Contest, that Sold the most salmo salar F3 Fish Product during the 4 Year Contest Sales Period.
For more details on winner determination, see the F3 Farm Challenge Official Rules (coming soon).
Challenge Timeline
We are holding this challenge in 2 contests, 2 YEAR (2025-2027) and 4 YEAR (2025-2029), nearer term and mid-term.
2 YEAR CONTEST: The Carnivorous Near-Term (2 years: 2025-2027) goal is to recognize existing farmers who are producing and selling the most carnivorous farm-raised fish on feeds without wild marine animal catch. Registration opens on September 16, 2025 and closes on April 30, 2026.
4 YEAR CONTEST: The Carnivorous Longer-Term (4 years: 2025-2029) goal is to encourage farmers that have not yet innovated or raise slower-growing carnivorous species to enter the contest. Registration opens on September 16, 2025 and closes on April 30, 2028.
Registration for both challenges opens on September 16, 2025.
Prize Details
Each prize will be awarded to the competitor/team that has sold the greatest amount by ton of fish fed without the usage of marine animal ingredients (no FMFO/Krill etc.) in their category at the conclusion of the Challenge sales periods. The prize will be awarded at a meeting, and the F3 Team will sponsor one member of the winning company to participate in that conference to receive the prize. Wiring of prize funds will occur after the ceremony, after wiring information and receipt of test wires is verified.
For Both the 2 YEAR CONTEST and 4 YEAR CONTEST:
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- The winning farm will receive an $90K USD prize
- A special award of $10K USD will be given to the Atlantic Salmon (salmo salar) farm that sells the most.
Benefits of Participating in the F3 Fish Farm Challenge
The F3 Fish Farm Challenge offers a unique opportunity for participating farms to innovate and secure their future. By engaging with the challenge, farms are performing R&D in advance to proactively adapt their supply chains, ensuring they are both resilient to future changes and well-positioned for expansion.
Participants also gain significant positive exposure throughout the contest. The previous F3 Krill Replacement Challenge, achieved more than 1,000 news placements, reaching a potential audience of over 200 million viewers through targeted global seafood industry media outlets. Participants reported that this exposure and attendance at the F3 Meeting enhanced their reputations for innovativeness and social responsibility and led to new business opportunities.
Have questions? Reach out to us at f3farmchallenge@gmail.com.
Pre-register Below
Fish farms can pre-register to receive updates about the challenge and be notified when entry opens.
CORE SPONSORS
See our full list of sponsors and supporting organizations.
STAY INFORMED
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BECOME A SPONSOR
Increase the prize money by becoming a crowdsource sponsor.
Eventually, our hope is that fish that are responsibly fed without marine animal ingredients, will be preferred and understood as well as “free range” chicken or “grass-fed” beef.
PAST F3 CHALLENGES
Learn more about the previous challenges and their winners.
