Representatives from the aquaculture sector, academia, and environmental and government organisations participated in a virtual roundtable discussion co-hosted by SAIC and Innogen on how best to implement innovations to improve aquaculture sustainability. Innogen's founding director, Professor Joyce Tait, opened the meeting by introducing Innogen's recent report on fish farming in Scotland, funded by the Open University in Scotland, and a policy paper that makes a series of recommendations for governments and other stakeholders to optimise the contribution of salmon farming to climate and environmental policy. Participants agreed on the need to work together (across the sector and with regulators) to create a policy environment that supports the innovations needed to achieve net-zero targets and protect biodiversity. Key areas where innovation could have a major impact include feed, waste recycling, facilities, and animal health. The use of novel, sustainable ingredients in aqua feeds, such as single-cell proteins and insects, has the greatest potential to contribute to both net-zero goals and biodiversity protection. Some of these ingredients are now available in commercial quantities, but production in general needs to be expanded. Growing more crops for feed locally has also been suggested as an approach to support the sustainable growth of aquaculture in Scotland. Image Zero Waste Scotland is working with businesses to identify waste uses that support a circular economy. Separating waste streams and modelling different scenarios can help optimise individual waste streams. Improving animal health will increase animal survivability and reduce overall waste. Research into advanced disease surveillance systems, vaccines, and genetic technologies can help reduce disease burden, reduce the need for pharmaceuticals, and make aquaculture more efficient. The development of hydrogen-powered vessels for fish farm maintenance and the establishment of an innovation hub where the sector and academia could jointly explore new opportunities were also suggested as valuable avenues to pursue. Thanks to the positive engagement of all participants, the meeting was very productive and marks the beginning of more frequent dialogue to stimulate positive change and potentially address some of the regulatory and policy challenges facing the growth of the sector. We’re grateful to all those who contributed to this workshop. It feels like there is a real appetite for collaboration among key players from across the aquaculture sector that now needs to be harnessed to benefit not only the Scottish economy but also aid the delivery of climate change and biodiversity policies. Joyce Tait, Founding Director of Innogen at The University of Edinburgh Related Links The Innogen Institute This article was published on 2022-11-03
