Scottish consortium awarded £250,000 to develop digital fish farm data platform

A consortium of research partners in Scotland has been awarded a £250,000 (US$351,000) funding package to develop a new digital platform that will help streamline the collection, interpretation, and use of data on fish farms.

Led by Glasgow-based telecommunications company R3-IoT, the consortium will develop a software system that automatically captures large volumes of continuous sensor data across aquaculture sites securely in one place, where it can be processed, stored, and actioned. The digital platform will be developed in parallel with R3-IoT’s satellite communications software.

The project is funded by the Seafood Innovation Fund, with support from the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC); Northern Light, the aquaculture consultancy; The Data Lab, Scotland’s innovation centre for data science and AI; CENSIS, Scotland’s innovation centre for sensing, imaging systems, and Internet of Things technologies; Edinburgh Napier University; the University of Stirling’s Institute of Aquaculture; and the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation (SSPO).

R3-IoT said that, once developed, the new digital platform will enable organisations to regularly share environmental and operational data with regulators, supply chain companies, researchers, and other stakeholders to enhance efficiency and transparency, while reducing risks and associated costs. The technology developed could be equally beneficial to forestry, agriculture, and other sectors with a remote or rural aspect.