Startups in Aquaculture Sector Using AI Technology to Enhance Production and Sustainability
More than 3 billion people around the globe rely on wild-caught and farmed seafood products for their protein intake. The world’s aquaculture production has hit a new record, and 89% of all aquatic animal production is being used for direct human consumption, according to a report published just last week. This shows a continuous increase in global consumption of aquatic foods. Accordingly, startups in the aquaculture sector are using AI technology to help farmers enhance production and sustainability.
A Canadian Startup’s Efforts to Revolutionize Aquaculture
Among them is a Canada-based startup called Wittaya Aqua. Its data-driven platform enables seafood farmers to consolidate existing data points across the seafood supply chain to drive greater profitability, sustainability, and efficiency. The startup raised $2.8 million in a seed round to further develop its feed-to-farm platform and expand further into Asia, the largest aquaculture-producing region, after entering Singapore in 2023.
Asia’s Significance in Aquaculture
“We were first founded in Canada, but our vision is global, and Asia is a key part of the equation. … The [Asia] region is the global leader in aquaculture production, contributing a significant portion of the world’s seafood,” co-founder and CEO of Wittaya Aqua Evan Hall told TechCrunch. “While Southeast Asia boasts high production, there’s immense potential for further growth through data-driven practices.”
The Startup’s Platform
The startup’s platform uses AI and machine learning to enhance its science-based models, forecast animal growth (predictive analytics), and recommend optimal feed types and quantities based on real-time data and growth projections. Its machine-learning algorithm analyzes historical data and environmental factors to suggest strategies for maximizing crop yields.
The Founder’s Background
Hall, a wildlife conservation photographer, and Dominique Bureau, a professor of animal nutrition and aquaculture at the University of Guelph, saw the inefficiencies and challenges of siloed data in the industry and co-founded Wittaya Aqua in 2017. Hall also said he had experienced firsthand the painful process of copying field notes into Excel to analyze data while working as a fisheries biologist.
The Need for Consolidated Data
The aquaculture data has traditionally been fragmented and slow-moving, hindering the ability to make well-informed decisions, Hall said. Wittaya Aqua aims to address this issue by consolidating data from various points in the supply chain — including farmers, feed mills, and ingredient suppliers — into a single centralized platform. Transparency across the value chain provides data and insights to help users make better decisions at every level, according to the company CEO.
Competitive Advantage
What sets Wittaya apart from its peers is that its platform combines nutritional information with field performance. That means the company can model the impacts of different feed ingredients on animal performance, which is unique, Hall said. In addition, it works with multiple species in multiple geographies, from mainstream commercial ones like salmon, shrimp, tilapia, and pangasius to niche species like grouper and snapper, unlike most companies that focus on a single species and a single geography.
Future Plans
In the longer term, Wittaya plans to pursue a two-pronged approach to usher in a new era of financial stability for farmers. First, it aims to reduce the perceived credit or insurance risks related to production mortality by offering robust data and insight. Second, it wants to match its users with lenders and insurers who can provide customized financial products, Hall said.
Conclusion
The global aquaculture market is projected to reach $355.6 billion by 2033, up from $299 billion in 2023, according to a report by Precedence Research. With startups like Wittaya Aqua using AI technology to enhance production and sustainability, the future of aquaculture looks promising.
FAQs
Q: What is Wittaya Aqua’s platform used for?
A: Wittaya Aqua’s platform is used to consolidate existing data points across the seafood supply chain to drive greater profitability, sustainability, and efficiency.
Q: What sets Wittaya apart from its peers?
A: Wittaya’s platform combines nutritional information with field performance, allowing it to model the impacts of different feed ingredients on animal performance, which is unique.
Q: What is the global aquaculture market projected to reach by 2033?
A: The global aquaculture market is projected to reach $355.6 billion by 2033, up from $299 billion in 2023.
Q: How many staff does Wittaya have across Canada and Singapore?
A: Wittaya has 16 staff across Canada and Singapore.
