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AquaIMPACT · Project

Smarter Fish Breeding and Feeding Software to Cut Aquaculture Costs

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Imagine you're raising fish on a farm and you want them to grow faster, eat less feed, and stay healthier — but you're basically guessing at the best approach. AquaIMPACT combined genetics and nutrition science for the four biggest farmed fish species in Europe — salmon, trout, seabream, and seabass — which together make up 75% of all farmed fish volume. They figured out which fish genetics respond best to which diets, then built software called FEEDNETICS that tells farmers exactly what to feed their specific fish. Think of it like precision agriculture, but underwater.

By the numbers
75%
of farmed finfish volume in Europe covered by the four target species
89%
of farmed finfish value in Europe covered by the four target species
24
consortium partners across 9 countries
42%
industry ratio in the consortium
10
industry partners involved in the project
4
commercially important fish species targeted
The business problem

What needed solving

European fish farmers face rising feed costs and inconsistent production quality, with feed typically being the largest operational expense. Breeding programs and feeding strategies are often disconnected — genetics teams select for better fish while nutritionists design diets without knowing which genetic lines they're feeding. This mismatch means farms leave significant efficiency gains on the table.

The solution

What was built

The project delivered FEEDNETICS, a commercially launched smart-software tool by SPAROS for optimizing fish feeding strategies based on genetic profiles. It also produced genomic selection tools, cost-efficient genotyping methods, tailor-made nutritional formulations for genetically improved fish, and imaging/spectroscopy-based monitoring systems — totalling 14 deliverables across 4 fish species.

Audience

Who needs this

Fish farm operators (salmon, trout, seabream, seabass)Aquaculture breeding companies and hatcheriesAquafeed manufacturers and ingredient suppliersAquaculture technology integrators (IoT and monitoring systems)Recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) operators
Business applications

Who can put this to work

Aquaculture & Fish Farming
any
Target: Fish farm operators raising salmon, trout, seabream, or seabass

If you are a fish farm operator dealing with rising feed costs and inconsistent growth rates — this project developed FEEDNETICS, a commercial software tool that matches feeding strategies to your fish genetics. These four species represent 89% of the value of farmed finfish in Europe, so even small efficiency gains translate into significant savings. The tool was tested under practical farming conditions with commercial partners across 9 countries.

Aquaculture Breeding & Genetics
mid-size
Target: Fish breeding companies and hatcheries

If you are a breeding company looking to improve your selection programs — this project developed cost-efficient genomic selection methods and trait recording techniques that work under commercial conditions. With 10 industry partners involved in testing, the genomic tools were economically optimized for real breeding operations. This means you can select for traits like disease resistance and feed efficiency without the prohibitive costs of traditional genomic approaches.

Aquafeed Manufacturing
mid-size
Target: Fish feed producers and ingredient suppliers

If you are a feed manufacturer trying to develop specialized diets for genetically improved fish lines — this project created tailor-made nutritional strategies incorporating emerging ingredients and essential nutrients. The feeding protocols were up-scaled and validated with commercial partners, giving you ready-to-use formulations. The project also incorporated spectroscopy and imaging technology for quality control of feed ingredients.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What does FEEDNETICS software cost and how is it licensed?

FEEDNETICS was commercially launched by SPAROS, one of the consortium partners. Specific pricing is not available in the project data. Contact SPAROS directly or through SciTransfer for licensing terms and pricing information.

Can this work at industrial scale or only in lab conditions?

The innovations were specifically measured under practical farming conditions, co-working with commercial partners. With 10 industry partners and 42% industry ratio in the consortium, scale-up was a core design goal. The four target species represent 75% of all farmed finfish volume in Europe, confirming industrial relevance.

Who owns the IP and can I license these tools?

The FEEDNETICS software is a commercial product from SPAROS. Other IP from the project is shared among 24 consortium partners across 9 countries. Licensing arrangements would depend on the specific technology — genomic tools, nutritional strategies, or software.

Which fish species does this cover?

The project covers Atlantic salmon, rainbow trout, gilthead seabream, and European seabass. Together these represent 75% in volume and 89% in value of total farmed finfish production in Europe. Results are species-specific, so benefits are tailored to each species' biology.

What technologies are involved beyond genetics?

Beyond genomic selection, the project harnessed imaging technology, spectroscopy, internet-of-things sensors, and machine learning. These were combined into smart-software tools to improve cost efficiency of farming operations and enable real-time monitoring and decision-making.

Is this compliant with EU aquaculture regulations?

The project included interaction with regulatory authorities as part of its communication strategy, specifically to increase societal acceptance and align with regulatory expectations. Based on available project data, the innovations were designed to promote zero-waste practices and efficient use of natural resources in line with EU bioeconomy goals.

How long before I see results on my farm?

The project ran from 2019 to 2023 and the FEEDNETICS software had its commercial launch at month 42 of the project. Since the project is now closed and the software is commercially available, implementation timelines depend on your farm setup and chosen technology components.

Consortium

Who built it

AquaIMPACT assembled 24 partners from 9 European countries, with a strong 42% industry ratio (10 industry partners) — well above average for EU research projects. The consortium includes 3 SMEs alongside major research institutes and universities, indicating a deliberate mix of scientific depth and commercial drive. The coordinator LUONNONVARAKESKUS (Natural Resources Institute Finland) is a leading European fisheries research body. Notably, SPAROS — the company behind the FEEDNETICS software launch — demonstrates that industry partners were not passive participants but actively commercializing project results. The geographic spread from Norway to the Mediterranean reflects coverage of both cold-water (salmon, trout) and warm-water (seabream, seabass) aquaculture markets.

How to reach the team

The coordinator is LUONNONVARAKESKUS (Natural Resources Institute Finland). For the FEEDNETICS software, contact SPAROS directly. SciTransfer can facilitate introductions to the right team.

Order a report on this consortiumSee LUONNONVARAKESKUS profile →
Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore how genomic feeding tools or FEEDNETICS software could improve your fish farming operations? SciTransfer can connect you with the right project partners and help you evaluate the fit for your business.

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