Smart technologies for sustainable aquaculture

CiTIUS will participate over the next three years in the new European project AQUATECHInn 4.0: 'Digital learning in aquaculture 4.0 for the technological training of fish farm technicians'; a new consortium financed by the Erasmus+ aid programme of the European Union, in which 14 entities from Spain, Italy, Portugal, France, Turkey and Greece participate.

Throughout the project, which officially began yesterday with the official launch meeting held in Valencia, a consortium formed by key players in the European aquaculture sector (business associations and aquaculture companies, universities, vocational training centres and research centres with experience in the sector) will propose the creation of the reference training programme 'AQUATECHInn 4.0', whose purpose will be to bring together the most innovative technological and productive advances developed for the sector, and adapted to the new Industry 4.0. To this end, it will incorporate technological advances such as Virtual Reality and Gamification, thus responding to the new demands of the labour market.

One of the main objectives of this new initiative is to improve the quality and skills developed in the European aquaculture sector, including new competences and reducing current mismatches with market needs. AQUATECHInn will also aim to familiarise aquaculture professionals with digital diagnostic procedures to assess the status of the different stages of the aquaculture farming process as appropriate, thus transforming traditional Aquaculture into Aquaculture 4.0 by promoting digital learning of processes.

Moreover, new educational methods to assess factors affecting production processes (such as growth, development, health and welfare of fish production) will also be developed through proven, recognised and innovative digital training, promoting effective and efficient education systems that are connected, inclusive and contribute to innovation (both in terms of vocational and higher education). AQUATECHInn aims to provide a better understanding of the use of digital approaches based on resources such as online training courses, Virtual Reality or gamified learning scenarios for technical training in the sector, as well as their validation in real conditions.

In addition, the project will select the best procedures and best practices for the technological development of aquaculture farms in Europe, generating praxis that will improve performance and make aquaculture an environmentally sustainable industry. This will result in a validated high impact throughout the European aquaculture sector, through growth, job creation, positive contributions to the economy and local communities.

Finally, AQUATECHInn will also serve to design, develop and share e-learning platforms that will host highly specialised educational resources. This will facilitate connections and synergies between the VET and higher education systems with the business sector, through the creation of new knowledge and competences to further professionalise the sector and improve access to the European aquaculture labour market. The final step will be the consolidation of independent training service providers.