• Title: Advancing Digital Precision Aquaculture in China (ADPAC)
• Programme: UK China Agri-tech Challenge Programme
• Funders: Innovate UK, BBSRC, Newton Fund, Ministry of Science and Technology of the People Republic of China.
• UK Academic Partners: University of Surrey (Academic Lead) and University of Bedfordshire
• UK Industry Partners: Chelsea Technology Group ( Industry Lead) and Perceptive Engineering
• Chinese Partners: China Agricultural University (Lead), Oceans University of China, Chongqing, Academy of Agricultural Sciences , Laizhou Mingbo Aquatic Co. Ltd., Zhanjiang Guolian Aquatic Products Co. Ltd.
• Duration of the Project: 36 months
• Amount of grant: 1.5 M GBP
• Start Date: 1st February 2019

Aim and objectives

The project aims to advance digital precision aquaculture in China towards “Aquaculture 4.0”, which is a highly connected and automated cyber-physical system using digital technologies. It will apply and integrate the latest technologies of advanced sensors, 5G-based Internet of Things, Big Data analytics and automation to pilot highly digital precision aquaculture in China.

The specific objectives are:

• To develop an innovation roadmap to guide the implementation of the state-of-the-art technologies for achieving Aquaculture 4.0 in China.
• To apply, test and validate the latest sensor technologies for real-time monitoring of aquaculture production, including water quality and fish behaviour.
• To design and implement a novel 5G based IoT platform for real-time transmission of vast sensor network data.
• To design and implement advanced data analytics and visualisation system for data-driven real-time control, optimisation and management of industrial aquaculture production.
• To pilot the application of the prototype Aquaculture 4.0 system in two industrial mariculture farms in China and demonstrate the economic, environmental and social benefits.

Project Innovations

The project will push the boundaries of technical innovations including:

• the application of new multiparameter anti-fouling aquaculture sensors for real-time monitoring, diagnosis and control, a capability that is lacking in existing aquaculture production;
• a new video-based sensing and analytics method for real-time monitoring of fish behaviours;
• the first application of the 5G technology for big data transmission in aquaculture;
• the first application of data analytics and automation for aquaculture over IoT;
• the first prototype of integrated system of Aquaculture 4.0 to be commissioned and validated at two aquaculture farms in China.

Project Team

The project proposal brings together 4 academic partners, 4 industrial partners including technology providers and end-users (aquaculture farms), and 1 non-profit government supported research organisation:

• University of Surrey (the Academic Lead)
• University of Bedfordshire
• China Agriculture University
• Ocean University of China
• Chelsea Technologies Group Ltd. (the Industry Lead)
• Perceptive Engineering Ltd.
• Guolian Aquatic Products Co. Ltd.
• Laizhou Mingbo Aquatic Co. Ltd.
• Chongqing Academy of Agricultural Sciences

Contact Information

Professor Yanqing Duan
E: yanqing.duan@beds.ac.uk
T: +44 (0)1582 743134