Digital Technology in Shrimp Farming
A Joint Status Assessment
Digital technologies are transforming shrimp farming from a system based largely on experience and manual observations to one where decision-making is driven by real-time data. This session will explore practical tools already being adopted, including IoT water quality sensors, smart aeration and circulation, acoustic feeding systems, biomass estimation, on-site diagnostics, and integrated farm management software. Particular focus will be on technologies that convert continuous streams of data into actionable recommendations for feeding, water quality, health management, and production economics, and how these technologies can maximize the performance of modern engineered pond systems. Speakers will also examine the barriers to adoption and discuss ways to bring digital technologies to shrimp producers of all sizes.
Fabian is the Director and Founder of HydroNeo. He holds a masters degree in international business. He founded HydroNeo in Thailand in 202 to develop Smart Farming Technology for Aquaculture. Since its inception, HydroNeo has become a leader with its IoT-based Smart Farm Management System for shrimp farmers to monitor water quality and automate farm operations for better performance and more sustainability on a farm level.
A recent large study of the Ministry of Agriculture of Thailand has concluded an average of 95% higher net profit due to 13% higher productivity and lower costs through substantial energy savings by using the HydroNeo Smart Farm Management System.
Vu Dau is a Business Development Director of Otanics Technology, the team behind TOMOTA—a smart solution for the shrimp industry. In just a few years, Dau and his teammates have brought TOMOTA to 44 countries to help shrimp farmers make better decisions through data. Their vision is to enable full traceability and connection, from hatchery to table.
Van Vu has over nine years of experience in creating technologies aimed at fostering a sustainable aquaculture ecosystem. He is the co-founder and CEO of OTANICS Technology Jsc. This company operates the Tomota digital platform, catering to every participant in the global shrimp value chain. In addition, Van is the cofounder of Ofarm Technology JSC, which develops cost-effective recirculation aquaculture systems for small-holder farmers. He also leads the NTT Hi-Tech Institute, focusing on high-tech applications in various industries. His mission is to drive positive change through innovation and collaboration in environmental, social, and economic realms.
Ruben Props is co-founder and CEO of KYTOS group, a start-up and spin-off company hailing from Ghent University, Belgium. He holds a PhD in applied biological sciences from Ghent University where he developed new methodologies for the rapid characterization of microbiomes in natural and engineered aquatic environments. He received a grant from the Belgian American Educational Foundation (Sofina-Gustave Boël fellowship) to pursue PhD research at the University of Michigan (2016-2018) and was granted an FWO postdoctoral fellowship at Ghent University in 2018 to further develop technologies for aquatic microbial research.
Props is widely considered an expert in single-cell analysis technologies and is co-author of 40 A1 peer-reviewed articles on the topic. In 2021, he co-founded the spin-off KYTOS to make these research developments applicable to the aquaculture industry as a “full-service” platform. KYTOS is pioneering the frontier of microbiome management to empower sustainable and thriving food production through Integrated Microbiome Management (IMM) solutions. Today, KYTOS has local teams and operations in three countries, is servicing customers in more than 20 countries, and has processed more than 100,000 samples.
Dr. Bert Wecker has studied Fisheries Biology, Aquaculture and Economics at the Christian-Albrechts-University in Kiel, Germany. During his career he has specialized in aquaculture with a focus on marine recirculating aquaculture systems. After serving in different research and development and management positions Wecker is currently co-CEO and CTO of Oceanloop, a company focusing on the indoor land-based farming of shrimp operating two innovative farms in Munich and Kiel. As Europe’s technology leader for farming marine shrimp, Oceanloop’s vision is to build sustainable farms worldwide. As vice president he is also involved in the “Bundesverband Aquakultur e.v.”, an association of German aquaculture stakeholders.
Sandro Coglitore is a dedicated professional with more than 30 years of experience in the shrimp industry in Ecuador. He has comprehensive knowledge of managing a shrimp producer and exporter company vertically integrated by three hatcheries, five shrimp farms and two processing plants. Recently, his shrimp experience has expanded borders with Omarsa’s investment in Panama, consisting of a laboratory, three shrimp farms and a processing plant. Among his skills is the ability of deep market analysis and forecast for promoting sales. An assiduous promoter of sustainable shrimp production, Coglitore helped Omarsa become the first shrimp exporter worldwide to obtain the ASC Certification.
