Digital Twin, a breakthrough for intensive aquaculture – A recent study published in Computers and Electronics in Agriculture highlights how the adoption of Digital Twin technology could revolutionise the intensive aquaculture sector. Conducted by a team of scientists from Norway, Belgium and Greece, the research highlights the growing importance of this technology within fish farming practices.
The Digital Twin concept refers to a virtual replica of a real system, integrating advanced mathematical models and data collected in real time. This allows processes and performance to be simulated, monitored and optimised, providing precise and detailed control without direct intervention in the physical environment.
Aquaculture, a young but fast-growing sector, finds in its digital twin a key tool to address and overcome biological and management challenges.
Martin Føre, lead author of the study, explains: ‘
Digital twin solutions combine real-time observations with advanced predictive models, providing a deeper understanding of fish farming dynamics. These technologies not only improve day-to-day management, but also lay the foundation for future automation of aquaculture operations.’
Industry 4.0, with its focus on the integration of digital technologies, finds in fish farming a fertile field for the application of these advanced digital systems. The study highlights three particularly promising application areas:
1. Improved oxygen monitoring in sea cages.
2. Optimisation of biomass growth and development through real-time data on fish.
3. Increased use of robotics and autonomous vehicles, especially useful in difficult-to-access environments.
The authors of the study therefore conclude that the current technological level of aquaculture requires the implementation of digital twins, emphasising the importance of a joint path between the scientific community and industry. The aim is not only to solve specific problems, but to integrate these developments into a holistic solution that radically transforms aquaculture.
The future of aquaculture could depend significantly on the integration of digital twin technology, promising not only increased efficiency and sustainability, but also more careful and respectful management of aquatic ecosystems.
Digital twin, a breakthrough for intensive aquaculture
