Contribution of China’s bivalve aquaculture to world’s essential amino acid production

Bivalve aquaculture are environmentally friendly high-quality protein, but quantitative data on protein and essential amino acid (EAA) production from bivalve aquaculture remain limited. This study assesses the long-term production of protein and EAAs from bivalve aquaculture in China, the world's leading producer of farmed bivalves, over the period from 2004 to 2023. The findings reveal that bivalves are rich in proteins and EAAs. Current bivalve aquaculture in China produces 411 thousand tonnes of protein, sufficient to meet the recommended protein intake of 22.5 million sedentary adults, and 72 thousand tonnes of EAAs, fulfilling the EAA requirements of 15.36 million individuals. Among bivalves, scallops stand out as the top choice for consumers prioritizing EAAs, as they contain the highest levels of protein and nearly all individual EAAs. By highlighting the nutritional and environmental benefits of bivalve farming, this study underscores its potential as a key component of sustainable food systems.