OCEAN ERA INC — Department of Agriculture SBIR Phase I: USDA-ARS Montana has developed a production process for moist, fibrous extruded diets that
OCEAN ERA INC — SBIR Phase I award from Department of Agriculture.
Phase I SBIR feasibility signal
- Phase I awards fund proof-of-concept work. For capture teams, they mark early interest from Department of Agriculture in a technical approach.
- Watch for Phase II follow-ons from the same firm/topic family — that conversion path is where budgets and transition pressure rise.
- Obligated amount $99,942. Cross-check similar awards in the same agency and technology tags for going-rate context.
- Amount
- $99,942
- Agency
- Department of Agriculture
- Program / Phase
- SBIR · Phase I
- NAICS
- —
- Place of performance
- HI
- Period
- —
Description
USDA-ARS Montana has developed a production process for moist, fibrous extruded diets that could resolve this impediment in marine fish, by allowing compound diets to be delivered in a stable, non-friable, large pellet - the "Formulated Sardine". This SBIR research project will test the acceptability of this new diet to Giant Grouper juveniles, by measuring feed wastage, feed consumption, and resulting growth and FCR for four different diets. Two iso-lipid Formulated Sardine diets of different textures (degrees of hardness, ~ 40 - 55% moisture) and a typical, hard commercial-style pellet (10% moisture) will be compared with a control diet of wet fish. This trial will then be repeated with kampachi (Seriola rivoliana), with the Formulated Sardine composition modified to approximate the nutrient contents used in commercial farming.