The iFishIENCi project, involving 16 partners from 8 European countries, focused on innovative technology developments in aquaculture. iFishIENCi's collaborative efforts have advanced aquaculture technologies, promoted sustainability, and facilitated knowledge sharing in the industry.
7 KERs have been produced at the end of the project, Fish-Talk-to-Me, iBOSS, SmartRAS, Waste2Value, New Feeds, Breed4Feed and a circularity assessment model. The KERs have reached TRLs between 7 and 9 with individual building block components that can also be exploited by partners at a range of different TRLs.
Fish-Talk-to-Me provided algorithms that could detect feeding behaviour in European seabass in open cages and a “feeding index” was developed for automatic detection of satiation with implications to control feeding. These algorithms were then further developed for Atlantic salmon in open cages and SCCS. A digital twin of the feeding process (FishMet model) was able to predict growth for rainbow trout and Atlantic salmon and incorporated into iBOSS. The capability of iBOSS to connect to existing sensor systems, integrate new sensors, collect data and make them available to further steering capacity was validated. iBOSS was able to provide data collection services as well as hosting algorithms for feeding optimization, and simulation model integration. The demonstrations of iBOSS in open cages, SCCS, RAS and ponds highlighted the adaptability of the technology to different production systems and integration with a range of different sensors and data related to these systems (i.e. telemetry in open cages, quality of wastewater in RAS).
The Waste2Value product successfully provided recommendations and data on valorising a range of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus from aquaculture waste, contributing to sustainability. Progress was made in producing algae-based and yeast-based feed ingredients using wastewater and sludge from RAS. New feeds were tested across various species, with final versions validated through organoleptic testing. A comprehensive analysis of microbiome changes in diverse production conditions was undertaken to ensure newly developed feeds were not impacting the microbiota of the system.
Genetically selected African catfish were successfully bred up to the F4 generation to grow efficiently on low-fish meal feeds and also tested using alternative proteins. SmartRAS was demonstrated, combining iBOSS, Cobalia, and FishMet, which enabled behavioural analysis of fish and precise feeding. SmartRAS was able to analyse the behavioural activity of fish from videos and recognise satiation behaviour, it is then able to allocate a feeding score which will determine the feeding ration of the next feeding event.
iFishIENCi was evaluated for its contributions to aquaculture sustainability, including social acceptability and environmental performance and strategies were developed for market entry, including market assessments, business models, and IP protection. Several different agreements have been suggested for IP protection and proper exploitation of the project KERs including IP agreements, NDAs, commercial agreements and mutual release agreements. Many of these are still in discussion, however, some of the individual building blocks identified that make up each of the KERs are already being exploited by individual partners who own the IP through incorporation into their current business activities or adding value.
