The world-class research capabilities of the Alltech Coppens Aqua Centre (ACAC) and its capacity to provide a practical platform for product development and solutions for the aquaculture industry have been recognized with the announcement that ACAC will become an Alltech bioscience center, according to an announcement.

For more than 15 years, ACAC has carried out practical and applicable research within the field of aquaculture, Alltech said, noting that it invested heavily in the facility in 2017, which will now become its fourth bioscience center. This center will be home to an expanded team of aquaculture researchers dedicated to quality, innovation and the development of new applications in aquaculture feed.

As part of ACAC’s progression to a bioscience center, Alltech Coppens announced that Dr. Philip Lyons will be taking on a new role as a global aquaculture research manager to help coordinate research activities at the new center with Alltech’s ever-expanding global research programs, the announcement said.

“Alltech’s bioscience centers are laboratories that maintain close ties to nearby universities to maximize interaction with academic researchers, share equipment and allow students in master's of science and doctoral programs to work in an industry lab setting,” explained Dr. Karl Dawson, Alltech vice president and chief scientific officer. “There are more than 120 scientists working in our bioscience centers around the world. By becoming a bioscience center, ACAC allows Alltech to address, research and solve aquaculture industry issues. The center will interact directly with many of our 28 research alliances and will focus on activities with the six alliances who directly work in aquaculture."

“Key aquaculture research areas include developing novel tools for evaluating nutritional responses and defining strategies for utilizing alternative feed ingredients and nutrients. We are also carrying out research into nutritional approaches for enhancing disease resistance and health as well as optimizing mineral nutrition and enhancing fat digestibility. We are also responding to market demand for new strategies for improving product quality and minimizing the environmental impact of aquaculture in general.”

Dawson added, "In addition to supporting and evaluating Alltech Coppens feed formulation initiatives, the new bioscience center will actively focus on beneficially altering fat digestion, optimizing mineral nutrition and developing novel nutritional approaches for reinforcing gut health and preserving product quality while minimizing the environmental impacts of aquaculture, the company said.

As Alltech’s newest bioscience center, ACAC joins the Alltech European Bioscience Centre in Dunboyne, Ireland; the Alltech Center for Animal Nutrigenomics & Applied Animal Nutrition in the U.S., and the Alliance Laboratory in Beijing, China.