September 19, 2018

BioMar optimistic that Denmark initiative will boost standards of aquaculture

BioMar has expressed optimism that an industry initiative - called the Danish Green Development and Demonstration Programme (GUDP) - would help "boost the aquaculture business to a new level."

The objective would be realised through a "new, innovative software tool" which targets an improved environmental footprint and optimises processes in fish farming. It is part of a new project linked to the GUDP, and was launched by leaders in Danish aquaculture innovation.

The GUDP project hopes to develop an advanced tool which can gather and process data from stakeholders throughout the aquaculture business within a shared cloud-based database.

According to Paw Petersen, managing director of Oxyguard International A/S, the project would seek to combine "IT and aquaculture to develop smart, easy-to-deploy, user-friendly tools that can lead to a new era of connected, responsible and efficient, and thus, sustainable aquaculture."

For data processing, the new software will build on technologies such as big data, internet of things (IoT) and machine learning. This would result in the enhancement of husbandry in farms, the better optimisation of usage of feed and oxygen, and the improvement of a range of other elements that will help reduce the environmental impact of aquaculture.

The project is led by OxyGuard International and builds on contributions from several innovative companies in Denmark's aquaculture business including BioMar, Danish Salmon, AquaPri, Danaqua, Aller Aqua, Kongeåens Dambrug, DTU-Aqua and the University of Copenhagen.

"For BioMar, the aim is to help our customers become more efficient and sustainable in an economically viable way. Our participation in projects of this kind helps us deliver on our strategy of innovating for a sustainable aquaculture for today and tomorrow," said Ole Christensen, vice president for BioMar's EMEA division.

- BioMar