---
title: OPTIMIZING SOY FEED FOR TROUT, SALMON
description: SAA’s July 1 webinar of “The Soy Research Trifecta,” from University of Idaho’s Jacob Bledsoe, Ph.D. and Marina Subramaniam, Ph.D.
image: https://content.soyaquaculture.com/hubfs/SAAQ_2026Q3Webinar-1200x627-PaidSocialPost_260616.png
---

[![](https://content.soyaquaculture.com/hubfs/SAAQ_Rebrand_Latest_231207_SAA_FC.svg)](https://soyaquaculture.com/)

# OPTIMIZING SOY FEED FOR TROUT, SALMON

SAA’s July 1 webinar kicked off the second half of 2026 with “The Soy Research Trifecta,” from University of Idaho’s [Jacob Bledsoe, Ph.D.](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakebledsoe111/) and [Marina Subramaniam, Ph.D.](https://www.linkedin.com/in/marina-subramaniam-631aa2187/) They illustrated the practical promise of SAA’s research funding for two prominent food fish species: rainbow trout and Atlantic salmon.

For nearly 25 years, U of I has conducted research both into improving soy-based diets for trout and selective breeding of trout genetic lines that thrive on high inclusion of soy in aquafeed. Soy diets have also led to some improved disease resistance.

Bledsoe’s latest research involves using AI machine learning to better recognize and classify enteritis in slide samples taken over several years from trout. He explained histopathology is the “gold standard” in testing how certain soy-based diets impact fish gut health, but it requires a specific type of histopathologist — of whom there aren’t many — to review hundreds of slides at a time. A program that can weed out all but the most severe samples would better use those scientists’ time.

Subramaniam’s research aims to understand how alternative feed ingredients to fish meal — such as soy — affect intestinal health. She measures how certain supplements move through intestinal lining in response to soy- and fish meal-based diets for trout and Atlantic salmon, to help determine the levels that best assist with digestion of soy proteins.

The webinar has so much more information! You can now watch the recording at the link below.

[Catch up here](https://soyaquaculture.com/education#latest-webinar)

![Jacob Bledsoe, Ph.D](https://content.soyaquaculture.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Q3_Webinar-THE_SOY_RESEARCH_TRIFECTA_Jacob%20BleDsoe%2c%20Ph.D.png?width=350&height=350&name=Q3_Webinar-THE_SOY_RESEARCH_TRIFECTA_Jacob%20BleDsoe%2c%20Ph.D.png "Jacob Bledsoe, Ph.D")

![Marina Subramaniam, PH.D](https://content.soyaquaculture.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Q3_Webinar-THE_SOY_RESEARCH_TRIFECTA_Marina%20Subramaniam%2c%20PH.D.png?width=350&height=350&name=Q3_Webinar-THE_SOY_RESEARCH_TRIFECTA_Marina%20Subramaniam%2c%20PH.D.png "Marina Subramaniam, PH.D")

[![](https://content.soyaquaculture.com/hubfs/SAAQ_Rebrand_Latest_231207_SAA_FC.svg)](http://soyaquaculture.com)

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