WiseFeed · Project

Software and Models to Cut Fish Farm Feed Costs and Waste

foodPrototypeTRL 4Thin data (2/5)

wisefeed.b.uib.no

Imagine you're running a fish farm and you're basically guessing how much food to throw in the water — too much wastes money and pollutes, too little stunts growth. WiseFeed built a kind of "nutritional calculator" for farmed fish, predicting exactly how they digest different feeds. They also looked at how rising water temperatures from climate change affect fish metabolism. The end goal? A software tool that tells fish farmers the optimal feeding recipe and schedule for their specific species.

By the numbers

consortium partners collaborating on aquafeed research

countries represented in the research network

industry partners involved in the project

total deliverables produced

EUR 288,000

EU contribution to the project

The business problem

What needed solving

Fish farms waste significant money on suboptimal feeding — overfeeding drives up costs and creates nitrogen pollution, while underfeeding reduces growth and yield. Current feeding strategies rely heavily on general guidelines rather than species-specific digestive models. Rising water temperatures from climate change are further disrupting established feeding practices, making the problem worse.

The solution

What was built

The project delivered a wrasse digestion prediction model (demo-level) and worked toward a software package for optimizing feeding strategies. Across 13 total deliverables, the consortium produced research on macro nutrient digestion efficiency, amino acid supplementation effects, and climate change impacts on fish metabolism in key cultured species.

Audience

Who needs this

Salmon and trout farm operators looking to reduce feed costsAquafeed manufacturers developing species-specific feed formulationsAquaculture sustainability managers dealing with nitrogen discharge regulationsCleaner fish (wrasse) producers in the salmon farming supply chainAquaculture technology companies building farm management software

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Aquaculture & Fish Farming

any

Target: Fish farm operators and aquaculture companies

If you are a fish farming company dealing with rising feed costs and nitrogen waste in your operations — this project developed a digestion prediction model and feeding optimization software that can help you match feed composition to your fish species' actual nutritional needs. The consortium of 9 partners across 6 countries tested this across key cultured species, meaning results are validated for commercial species, not just lab fish.

Aquafeed Manufacturing

mid-size

Target: Companies producing fish feed and feed additives

If you are an aquafeed manufacturer struggling to differentiate your products or prove their digestibility claims — this project built models that quantify digestion, absorption, and retention efficiency of macro nutrients in cultured fish. With 3 industry partners in the consortium, the research was shaped by real commercial needs and could help you formulate feeds with proven performance data.

Environmental & Sustainability Consulting

SME

Target: Environmental compliance firms serving aquaculture

If you are a sustainability consultant helping aquaculture clients reduce their environmental footprint — this project specifically addressed nitrogen waste reduction from fish farms and the effects of elevated temperatures due to climate change on fish metabolism. The findings from 13 deliverables across 3 years of research provide evidence-based recommendations for cleaner farming practices.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to implement this feeding optimization software?

The project developed a software package for optimizing feeding strategies, but as an MSCA-RISE staff exchange project with EUR 288,000 in EU funding, the budget was focused on research collaboration rather than commercial product development. Licensing or implementation costs would need to be discussed directly with the University of Bergen coordinator.

Can this work at industrial scale for large fish farming operations?

The project aimed to quantify digestion, absorption, and retention efficiency across key cultured fish species, which is relevant to industrial-scale operations. However, with 9 partners primarily focused on knowledge exchange through staff secondments, the scaling from research models to production-ready tools would require additional development.

What is the IP situation — can we license this technology?

The wrasse digestion prediction model is listed as a demo deliverable, and a software package for feeding optimization was a stated objective. IP is likely held by the consortium led by the University of Bergen. Licensing arrangements would need to be negotiated with the coordinator.

Does this work with species we already farm, or only exotic fish?

The project explicitly targeted key cultured fish species in commercial aquaculture. Wrasse (a cleaner fish used in salmon farming) was specifically modeled. The consortium included partners from Norway, Spain, and Portugal — major European aquaculture nations — suggesting coverage of commercially important species.

How does this help with environmental regulations on fish farm waste?

The project directly targeted reduced nitrogen waste from fish farms as a practical benefit. By optimizing feed composition and feeding protocols, nitrogen output can be lowered. This addresses tightening EU environmental regulations around aquaculture discharge.

Is the software ready to use or still in research phase?

Based on available project data, the project produced a demo-level wrasse digestion prediction model and aimed to deliver a software package. As an MSCA-RISE project (closed in 2018), the outputs are likely at research-prototype stage rather than commercial-ready software.

Consortium

Who built it

WiseFeed brought together 9 partners from 6 countries (Austria, Germany, Spain, Norway, Portugal, Vietnam), with a 33% industry ratio — 3 industry partners and 1 SME alongside 2 universities and 3 research organizations. Led by the University of Bergen in Norway, one of Europe's leading marine research institutions, the consortium bridges Atlantic and Mediterranean aquaculture expertise. The inclusion of a Vietnamese partner signals relevance to Asian aquaculture markets as well. For a business looking to adopt these results, the mix of academic depth and industry involvement suggests the research was guided by practical needs, though the MSCA-RISE format (staff exchange) means the emphasis was on building long-term collaboration rather than delivering turnkey commercial products.

UNIVERSITETET I BERGENCoordinator · NO
HAVFORSKNINGSINSTITUTTETparticipant · NO
BIOMIN HOLDING GMBHparticipant · AT
EVONIK INDUSTRIES AGparticipant · DE
AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICASparticipant · ES
SPAROS LDAparticipant · PT
CENTRO DE CIENCIAS DO MAR DO ALGARVEparticipant · PT
EVONIK OPERATIONS GMBHparticipant · DE
TRUONG DAI HOC NHA TRANGpartner · VN

How to reach the team

The project was coordinated by the University of Bergen (Norway). The coordinator can be reached through the university's Department of Biological Sciences.

Order a report on this consortium See UNIVERSITETET I BERGEN profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to connect with the WiseFeed team about their feeding optimization models? SciTransfer can arrange an introduction and help you evaluate if this research fits your aquaculture operations.

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