Hannah Jensen
Industrial PhD Candidate
Unibio
Denmark
Hannah is an Industrial PhD candidate at Unibio A/S, researching sustainable fish-feed solutions based on microbial single-cell protein. Her research, Green Growth of Aquaculture by Use of Bacterial Proteins, examines how microbial single-cell protein and its components affect the immune system, disease resistance and growth in rainbow trout and Atlantic salmon. Her work bridges academic research and industry application to improve fish health and immune response. She brings a background in fish parasitology, immunology and molecular biology, developed through fish-health and disease research at the University of Copenhagen. Before her PhD, she worked as a Technical Development Assistant at Unibio, collaborating with industry and academic partners to design trials and translate scientific results into product development. She holds an MSc in Biology and has published in international peer-reviewed journals as both first and co-author. Through her work, she aims to support sustainable and environmentally friendly aquaculture practices.
Marketing Alternative Ingredients: New Opportunities
Abstract
Rising pressure on the price and availability of marine ingredients is pushing the aquafeed industry to look beyond fisheries and conventional crops for its protein sources. Single-cell proteins (SCPs) are gaining ground as one of the most promising solutions. Derived from microorganisms such as yeast, fungi, bacteria and algae, they have emerged as a sustainable protein source whose production is independent of seasonal variation, requires relatively little land and water, and does not depend on conventional agriculture or fisheries.
The methanotrophic bacterium Methylococcus capsulatus uses methane as its carbon source, producing biomass with a high protein content. The effects of dietary SCPs on physiological performance have been investigated in numerous studies across a wide range of aquatic species.
The presentation will provide an overview of the production technology behind the M. capsulatus-derived SCP (Uniprotein®) and summarize the scientific evidence demonstrating that it can partially replace fishmeal and plant-protein ingredients in aquafeeds for multiple species, while maintaining or improving growth performance and enhancing disease resistance.
© TARS 2026 – The Aquaculture Roundtable Series®