Photo: Rangen Feed/FIS

U.S. Aquaculture Reaches Milestone: Rangen Achieves Nation's First ASC Feed Certification

UNITED STATES
Monday, November 17, 2025, 00:10 (GMT + 9)

Idaho-Based Mill Sets New North American Benchmark for Responsible Aquafeed, Driving Industry-Wide Change in Sustainable Sourcing.

Buhl, Idaho – Rangen Aquaculture Nutrition has achieved a historic milestone for responsible aquaculture in the United States. The company's feed mill, located in the heart of Idaho’s Magic Valley—a key hub for U.S. agriculture and aquaculture—is the first in the nation to be awarded the coveted Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) Feed Certification.

Photo: Rangen Inc.

This achievement positions Rangen as a leader in North America, setting a new benchmark for sustainable practices in aquafeed manufacturing. The Buhl mill is now certified to produce responsibly sourced feed for a wide range of commercially farmed species, including freshwater trout, salmon, seriola (yellowtail), cobia, shrimp, and tilapia.

The Critical Role of Feed in Sustainable Seafood

Feed is recognized as one of the most influential factors for improving the environmental and social performance of the rapidly growing seafood farming industry. The ASC Feed Certification ensures that all ingredients used to nourish farmed fish are responsibly produced and sourced, and are fully traceable through the supply chain.

The ASC Feed Standard is the first of its kind to set binding global requirements for all feed ingredients. This includes demanding responsible sourcing for marine ingredients like fishmeal and fish oil, and for plant-based components such as soy, palm oil, and wheat. Certified companies must demonstrate that these are sourced from responsibly managed fisheries or sustainable agricultural sources.

Aisla Jones, Feed Engagement Manager at ASC, underscored the significance of the certification: “Rangen achieving the first ASC Feed Certification in the United States is a significant step for the U.S. aquaculture sector... This demonstrates a trailblazing step forward in responsible sourcing and production, helping to build a more transparent and trusted seafood industry for the future.”

Aligning the Supply Chain

This certification directly supports U.S. farmers transitioning toward more responsible seafood production. Rangen's feed is already utilized by major producers, including Riverence Provisions, an ASC-certified trout farm also located in Idaho.

Carrington Gorman, Director of Aquaculture at Rangen Inc., commented on the company’s commitment: “Rangen Aquaculture is committed to delivering nutritionally rich solutions from hatch to harvest and ASC is now a key part of that commitment... Demonstrating alignment with the ASC Feed Standard makes Rangen an industry leader for American feed companies, showing we’ve met the world’s strictest standards to deliver an exceptional product that’s not only nutritious for animals, but sustainable for the environment.”

The ASC Feed Standard works in tandem with the existing ASC Farm Standard. This dual approach promotes responsibility from the initial feed ingredient all the way to the final product on the farm.

The achievement is also timely for the industry's future. From October 31, 2025, all ASC-certified farms worldwide will be required to use ASC-conforming feed from certified mills. Rangen’s early certification provides a critical domestic source for U.S. producers preparing for this upcoming industry-wide transformation, reinforcing the country's potential to lead in responsible seafood production and supply chain integrity.

Fact Box: ASC Feed Certification

• Goal: Ensure feed ingredients are responsibly produced, sourced, and traceable.

• Ingredients Covered: Fishmeal, fish oil, and plant-based ingredients like soy, palm oil, and wheat.

• Key Date: ASC-certified farms must use ASC-conforming feed from certified mills by October 31, 2025.

• First Certified U.S. Mill: Rangen Aquaculture Nutrition in Buhl, Idaho.

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