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Aquaculture nutrition specialist SPAROS and aquaculture data and software firm aquaManager have announced the launch of a new data-driven feeding solution the two firms have jointly developed.
The OptiFeeSH tool, the companies say, is intended to help producers move away from trial-and-error feeding practices by linking biological data with site-specific conditions and production objectives.
The commercial launch follows several years of development and testing, including pilots in land-based and offshore farming systems. According to the companies, trials during pre-growing phases delivered biomass growth gains of up to 50% compared with baseline performance without the tool, while also reducing the time required for feed planning and improving the predictability of growth outcomes.
“OptiFeeSH represents a pivotal advancement for precision aquaculture,” said Luís Conceição, co-CEO of SPAROS, in a press release announcing the launch, adding that “precision feeding is in the roadmap for more profitable, environmentally and fish-friendly aquaculture.”
Rui Amaral, production controller at Portuguese turbot and sole farming company Flatlantic, highlighted the practical application of the tool. “The strength of this tool lies in its ability to generate reliable feeding tables that our feeders can confidently implement in the field without fear of compromising growth,” he said.
The solution has been jointly developed and is co-owned by SPAROS and aquaManager, and is now being offered to farms of different sizes, the companies said.