A Conference on the use of yeasts and fungi in gilthead seabream diets has been held at the Agricultural University of Athens
On Monday, October 30 2023, a Conference took place with great success at the Multiple Purpose Hall of the Agricultural University of Athens, entitled: “Use of yeasts and fungi in gilthead seabream diets towards external coloration improvement and immune enhancement - Brightfish”. The Laboratory of Applied Hydrobiology of the Agricultural University of Athens co-ordinates the particular project, in collaboration with the Aquaculture Laboratory of the University of Thessaly and the Private Capital Company, named Ixthiotrofeia DIONI in the area of Fish hatcheries. The project is funded by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, besides being implemented within the framework of the Operational Program: “Fisheries and Maritime 2014-2020”. The Agenda of the Workshop has included considerable research conclusions, with reference to the effects of the integration of raw materials derived from yeasts and fungi in gilthead seabream diets, as well as its weight gain and external coloration, immunology, histomorphology, gene expression and microbiome.
The Vice – Rector for the European University, Internationalization and Student Affairs, Ms. Helen Miliou, Professor, has carried out the opening of the Conference, highlighting the advantages of cooperation amongst the Greek Universities and Private Bodies, inasmuch congratulating the Partners involved, on the spirit of collaboration they have demonstrated throughout the implementation of the project. Furthermore, the Vice- Rector has emphasised the fact that the Agricultural University of Athens has been serving a variety of research activities for many years, by means of substantial support actions, which lead to innovative applications in the aquaculture industry. On behalf of the Private Capital Company, named Ixthiotrofeia DIONI in the area of Fish hatcheries, Mr. Vasilios Palios has expressed his views on the current situation of the sector on an economic and productive level, while noting the prospects in a financially unstable environment, however, with increasing demand for aquaculture products.
Subsequently, the Project Coordinator, Mr. Emmanouil Malandrakis, Assistant Professor, has featured the project, analysing scientific data of the overall research effort, thus informing all the present people about the progress of the project, in addition to the dissemination actions performed. Moreover, Mr. Ioannis Karapanagiotidis, Associate Professor and Scientific Manager of the subproject in the University of Thessaly, has presented the results of the Study conducted by the Aquaculture Laboratory of the University of Thessaly, pertaining to the use of yeast products and by-products into the process of growth, immunology and histomorphology of sea bream, inasmuch distinguishing specific additives that have led to the improvement of the normal condition of the fish. In the course of further speeches, the significant results of the project elaborated, have been publicly stated. At the end of the speeches, a fruitful discussion was held about the present state and the outlook for aquaculture sector.
It is worth mentioning that delegates from the Special Managing Authority of the Operational Program, under the title: “Fisheries, Aquaculture and the Sea”, along with the deputation from the Directorate General of Fisheries under the Ministry of Rural Development & Food, as well as a group of representatives from other Public and Private Stakeholders, in addition to a large number of students, have participated in that Conference.
