Tilapia farming provides important income across Asia, Africa and Latin America, yet Nile tilapia is native to Africa and thrives best in warm water. When temperatures fall, growth slows and producers can lose revenue during colder months.
Scientists from Egypt and the Philippines tested two ingredients commonly found in chewing gumĂlecithin and Arabic gumĂas dietary supplements to help tilapia tolerate lower temperatures. The experimental diet contained Arabic gum and lecithin and produced fish with improved growth, higher survival and enhanced antioxidant responses. The researchers reported that the two ingredients together appeared to influence a gene that controls the fluidity of cell membranes; increased expression of this gene likely helped the fish adapt to temperature shifts by altering membrane response.
The study, published in Aquaculture Reports, builds on earlier work but is the first to test these additives specifically as a cold-environment feeding strategy. Wendy Sealey, a fish physiologist at the US Department of Agriculture and president-elect of the World Aquaculture Society, described the research as "a thorough study." Experts caution the approach is most useful for subtropical farms facing marginal temperature drops and is not a method to grow tilapia in very cold places. Further, longer-term and cellular-level research was recommended.
The Food and Agriculture Organization reports 5.3 million tonnes of tilapia were harvested in 2022, making it the fourth most harvested aquatic animal. Top producers include:
- China
- Indonesia
- Brazil
- Egypt
- Thailand
- The Philippines
Difficult words
- lecithin — A fatty substance used in food and cells
- arabic gum — A plant-based thickener used in food
- supplement — An added dietary ingredient to improve nutritionsupplements
- antioxidant — A substance that reduces cell damage from oxidation
- membrane — A thin layer that surrounds and protects cellsmembranes
- subtropical — A region with warm but not tropical climate
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- What are the main benefits and the main limits of using lecithin and Arabic gum for tilapia, based on the article?
- How should small-scale producers decide whether to try these dietary supplements, considering costs and possible gains?
- What further research would you recommend before this feeding strategy is adopted more widely?
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