Azolla: The super protein in animal feeds

Karagita, Naivasha

Thank you, Francis, for reading Smart Harvest and for your great question. Sometimes, I am amazed at how farmers are quick to share information on innovations with fellow farmers without verifying it, leading to unintended consequences. However, I always choose to look at the brighter side of it.

Understandably, they are only trying to solve the daily challenges of the ever-increasing cost of production, with animal feed a major concern, especially for poultry farmers.

It is not any cheaper for dairy or beef producers. The other major cost is veterinary services to manage diseases.

Fortunately, for the latter, there are many preventive interventions like vaccinations, breed selection, and biosecurity measures; the former has relatively fewer options, mainly on farm feed formulation, which does not always happen on a scale that is economically viable.

The protein component of most feeds is what pushes the prices up. The rapid increase in the human population results in an increased demand for animal protein. Now, on the animal side, there is a deficit of protein feeds in the market, subsequently translating into the high cost of animal feeds.  

Ruminants have microbes in the gut that produce microbial protein, an advantage that monogastric animals do not have, hence their pure reliance on dietary proteins.

There have been a lot of efforts to find alternative or cheaper sources of proteins for animals, with soybeans being promoted as an affordable plant protein source.

The larvae of black soldier flies are another source of protein for animals, mostly on a small scale, but one that has seen poultry farmers increase their profits through the lowering of feed costs.

Azolla has joined this space as a candidate for protein source for animal feeds.

What is Azolla? It is a freshwater fern present in the tropical and temperate regions that is quickly gaining popularity in the realm of protein sources for animal feeds.

Although a lot of research is ongoing on this wonder fern, already there is a lot of information and individual confessions of poultry and pig farmers who have used Azolla as a protein source.

Azolla has many advantages. Apart from its richness in proteins, it has a nitrogen-fixing ability, thanks to a symbiotic association with another blue-green alga, anabaena.

This means that it can get its own nitrogen fertiliser. Azolla has a unique advantage as one of the fastest-growing plants in the world and attains maturity in just 72 hours.

Actually, Azolla can double its biomass in as little as two days. Greenhouse gas emissions experts are looking at the sequestration abilities of this plant as animal nutrition experts are thirsting to bring it into the protein sources league.

Azolla is a good source of protein, and it contains almost all essential amino acids and minerals, such as iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, manganese, vitamin A precursor beta-carotene, and vitamin B12.

This fern can be produced within a small area. Farmers are already embracing Azolla production and use, especially in poultry and pig production, as a source of protein, with those that I have spoken to saying they are doing well.

Azolla seeds are available in agrovets already. But there is a lot more that can be done with this wonder fern. A little more research is needed to better understand how to farm, harvest, and process Azolla.

[Dr Othieno is a veterinary surgeon and the head of communications at the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Kenya. The views expressed here are not necessarily those of FAO but his own]