FishMet: Digital twin for precision aquaculture
Software model for optimized feeding and waste reduction for salmon and trout farming.
Background
The aquaculture industry, especially salmonid fish farming, is a significant contributor to global food security and economic development. As the pressure mounts to boost production while minimizing environmental impact, innovative solutions are critical.
Traditional feed management systems often fail to capture the complexity of fish feeding behavior and environmental variables. FishMet is an advanced digital twin platform that integrates biological and environmental data to predict fish appetite, feed intake, and growth. Unlike conventional feeding models or AI-driven systems, FishMet leverages biology-driven algorithms to deliver transparent, accurate, and fully explainable predictions. This innovation is the result of over a decade of research into fish physiology, metabolism, and growth regulation.
· Technology: Digital twin platform for precision feeding and growth prediction in salmon and trout aquaculture
· Users: Salmonid aquaculture in sea-based and recirculating aquaculture systems; Aquaculture operations and management software platform providers.
· Stage: Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5; ready for pilot testing in an operational environment
· IP Status: Proprietary software under dual-core licensing (generic model is available for free under AGPL license; complete solution will be available under commercial license)
Key features
· Real-Time Decision Support: Adapts feeding schedules dynamically based on fish behavior and environmental changes.
· Efficiency: Optimizes feed usage, reduces waste and environmental impact.
· Transparency: White-box modeling approach that provides explainable outputs.
Market Potential
The FishMet model has shown promising results in predicting food intake and growth in rainbow trout and Atlantic salmon, highlighting its potential as a powerful tool for precision aquaculture to optimize production. With feed production representing up to 75% of aquaculture climate footprint in Norway and feed being the major cost factor in aquafarm operations, FishMet addresses a critical need for more efficient feed management, offering both economic and environmental benefits:
· Precision: Simulates individual fish behavior and group dynamics for accurate feeding optimization.
· Sustainability: Reduces feed waste and nutrient runoff, aligning with regulatory and environmental goals.
· Flexibility: Can be integrated into existing IoT aquaculture platforms, thus minimizing infrastructure and integration costs.
Collaboration Opportunity
We seek pilot partners in the aquaculture industry to test the current version of FishMet software in real world conditions. Likewise, we seek potential licensees with established presence in aquaculture IoT and software solutions, such as technology providers that introduce and integrate digital tools into fish farming operations.
Meanwhile, an open-source version of the generic model can be found here.
Inventors Ivar Rønnestad, University of Bergen Sergey Budaev, University of Bergen.
Contact
If you wish to discuss the project or have any questions, please contact:
Senior Business Developer
tloh@visinnovasjon.no
+47 484 98 987
More information:
Fish & chips? Modellen som kan hjelpe oppdrettere med å optimalisere fôrstrategier FishMet - a digital twin for smart feeding of fish - Prosjektbanken