August 29, 2024
Sweden's agriculture agency backs circular shrimp, fish aquaculture project with nearly US$1 million funds
The Swedish Agricultural Agency has granted kr10 million (US$982,083) for a project on sustainable food production, led by Olivier Keech of the Department of Plant Physiology at Sweden's Umeå University and Umeå Plant Science Centre.
The project aims to establish and optimise sustainable production of shrimp and fish in a circular aquaculture system.
"In the project, we use bio-RAS, a technology where the water contains particles which are then filtered by a mixture of microorganisms such as bacteria, microalgae and zooplankton," Keech explained. "These convert leftover nutrients into natural feed for the fish and shrimp. In addition, it acts as a probiotic for the animals. Overall, it creates a much more sustainable loop."
The project is interdisciplinary and involves researchers from Umeå University, the Swedish University of Agriculture in Ultuna (SLU) as well as the newly started company Cresponix AB and Brazilian partners. Together, they will apply cutting-edge research to develop and optimise the use of bio-RAS.
The technology, originally developed by professor Anders Kiessling (SLU) and Sergio Zimmerman (Zimmermann Aqua Solutions) is a tropical alternative to cold water recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) that allows for the recapture of organic resources.
The team will create an innovative, sustainable production of feed, as well as evaluate various aspects of shrimp physiology with professor Johan Dicksved and associate professor Kartik Baruah at SLU Ultuna. Furthermore, in collaboration with professor Stefan Bertilsson SLU Ultuna, a metagenomic analysis will also be carried out to assess how the microorganisms in the shrimp's gastrointestinal system develop depending on different compositions of feed and water.
Another part of the project is to develop a mathematical model that can help control and optimise energy conversion, nutrient storage, biomass production, and economic viability for the pilot plant the researchers will establish.
"This is a key component for the expansion of such facilities and municipalities; industries and future investors need to know the efficiency and return on investment of such a food production platform," Keech added.
The project is part of a larger project that Anders Kiessling, professor at SLU Ultuna, and Keech initiated several years ago. In a joint venture with both academics and companies, they are establishing a pilot platform for research and development at Östersjöfabriken in Västervik, Sweden.
"Low-grade heat has no real value in itself and is currently simply cooled down to a certain threshold and released as warm air or lukewarm water into the environment," Keech said. "Instead, channeling the heat into greenhouses and fixing the remaining energy into biomass is a much better way to reduce the environmental impact of human activities."
The research's aspiration is to contribute to food security and reduce dependency on imported food. Today, close to 70% of the fresh produce consumed in Sweden is imported.
"By producing more "tropical" products locally, you logically lower the carbon dioxide emissions related to imports from distant countries," Keech remarked.
- Umeå University
