March 21, 2024

UK start-up develops sustainable modular farming system for aquaculture

Aquanzo, an Edinburgh, Scotland, UK-based start-up, is pioneering a new modular farm system powered by food and drink by-products as a sustainable alternative to fishmeal in feed, FiskerForum reported.

Collaborating with CENSIS, Scotland's innovation centre for sensing, imaging, and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, Aquanzo aims to farm artemia, a species of brine shrimp crucial for fish and crustacea feed. This project, supported by funding from Innovate UK and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), has garnered backing from Boortmalt, a leading malting company.

Artemia, essential for feeding aquatic creatures, are naturally found in warm, salty water, primarily in salt lakes across the USA, China, and Eurasia. However, the restricted supply, compounded by recent disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine, has necessitated innovative solutions to sustainably produce this vital protein source.

Rémi Gratacap, co-founder and CEO of Aquanzo, said it is important to decouple aquaculture from fisheries dependence, citing the crisis in fishmeal ingredients. He highlighted the shift towards farming essential feed components like artemia as a more scalable and controlled approach, akin to insect farms but with marine ingredients.

Aquanzo's recirculating aquaculture system (RAS), developed in collaboration with Heriot-Watt University, utilises co-products from agricultural processes, initially focusing on malt production for the whisky industry. By repurposing water rich in minerals and organic matter, the system aims to grow artemia sustainably while minimising CO2 emissions compared to traditional fish harvesting methods.

The IoT-enabled array of sensors and data repository, developed with assistance from CENSIS engineers, will facilitate real-time monitoring of environmental conditions and artemia growth. This technology enables Aquanzo to progress towards a fully mobile recirculating system, adaptable to various agricultural by-product sources, while ensuring optimal production efficiency and sustainability.

Corinne Critchlow-Watton, project manager at CENSIS, hailed Aquanzo's innovative approach, highlighting the integration of cutting-edge technology to address longstanding challenges in aquaculture.

-      FiskerForum