Algal-derived functional compounds could improve the nutritional quality of a plant-based diet while providing aquafeed that offers reliable economical and cost-effective replacement for fishmeal…

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded West Virginia State University Research And Development Corporation $300,000 on December 15, 2025, under the 1890 Institution Capacity Building Grants program (CFDA 10.216) to develop algal-derived functional compounds as aquafeed and plant-based diet supplements for rainbow trout.

The recipient will assess the nutritional adequacy and growth performance of rainbow trout fed plant-based diets supplemented with algae-derived ingredients, analyzing proximate compositions and feed efficiency. Using high-resolution metabolomic and transcriptomic techniques, the project will investigate metabolic pathways and gene expression changes related to growth, digestion, nutrient absorption, and immune response in trout tissues. The work aims to identify biological mechanisms underlying nutritional improvements and develop aquafeed fortified with algae as an economical replacement for fishmeal and fish oil. A fifth objective focuses on designing educational materials to promote scientific research among the next generation of scholars.

Performance occurs in Dunbar, West Virginia, with a period of performance from December 15, 2025, through December 14, 2029. The award supports executive orders related to aquaculture and aligns with the 1890 Institution Capacity Building Grants program's mandate to strengthen research and teaching in food and agricultural sciences at 1890 Land-Grant Universities, which are historically Black institutions.

Algal-derived functional compounds could improve the nutritional quality of a plant-based diet while providing aquafeed that offers reliable economical and cost-effective replacement for fishmeal and fish oil. The initiative has the potential to provide the fish farmers with an alternative aquafeed fortified with algae while offering educational and research opportunities to students from various backgrounds to become a talented workforce in reliable agriculture practices. Moreover, IT could reduce feed costs increase access to aquaculture and ultimately enhance the nutritional value of rainbow trout. We aim to provide a perspective on how algal-derived functional foods can be used to improve rainbow trout plant-based diets by utilizing high-resolution metabolomic and transcriptomic techniques to uncover the underlying biological mechanisms behind these improvements. Objective 1-assess the nutritional adequacy and effects of algal supplementation on rainbow trout by analyzing proximate compositions (moisture crude protein crude FAT ASH fiber); objective 2- evaluate the growth performance characteristics and feed efficiency of rainbow trout FED with plant-based diets supplemented with algal-derived functional ingredients objective 3- investigate the metabolic pathways affected by algal-derived functional foods in a plant-based diet using advanced metabolomic techniques in rainbow trout tissues; objective 4- analyze transcriptomic data to identify gene expression changes related to growth digestion nutrient absorption and immune response in rainbow trout FED algal-supplemented diets revealing molecular mechanisms associated with these changes; objective; 5-design educational materials to promote a culture of scientific research among the next generation of scholars. This project supports executive orders related to aquaculture.