The University of Stirling’s Institute of Aquaculture has launched a $4.5 million initiative to develop a digital tool supporting sustainable aquaculture in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta.
Photo courtesy of the University of Stirling.
The Institute of Aquaculture at the University of Stirling is developing a £3.5 million (US $4.5 million) project consisting of a digital tool to promote sustainable aquaculture in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta.
The initiative AquaSoS uses satellite data, water quality sensors, and lab analysis to address pollution, climate change, and diseases. The university’s Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences will provide valuable information, which the tool will combine with food production and environmental protection.
According to Professor Simon MacKenzie, rivers, seas, and deltas often suffer from rising temperatures, salinization, and changes in sediment flow that threaten food and water security.
"Infectious diseases in Asian and global aquaculture are a major continuous threat to sustainable production. AquaSoS will be designed to address this problem," he assured.
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is developing four projects, including AquaSoS, with £12 million (US $15.4 million) to strengthen sustainable aquaculture in Southeast Asia.
These projects aim to reduce the effects of climate change, promote food security and community resilience, and increase the visibility of seafood production in the region.
The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) are the executing bodies, and the funding comes from the UK Government's International Science Partnership Fund Official Development Assistance budget.
"The University of Stirling is leading the way globally in aquaculture research, and the decades-long work undertaken in Vietnam contributes significantly to the livelihoods of fishermen and communities throughout the Mekong region," explained British Ambassador to Vietnam Iain Frew.
A few days ago, the University of Stirling confirmed expanding its marine aquaculture research capacity thanks to a £3.84 million investment in its Marine Environment Research Laboratory (MERL) at Machrihanish, in Argyll.
