DNV has entered into an agreement to acquire technology and intellectual property rights from AquaCloud. The goal is to further develop common data standards and data infrastructure for the aquaculture industry, where production data will provide better insights, learning, and decision support—and contribute to improved fish welfare and efficiency in the industry.
Since its founding, AquaCloud has developed digital tools and data platforms for the aquaculture industry. The company has worked on fish health, sea lice management, data standardization, and the sharing of production data, and has been a key partner in several research and innovation projects.
– The aquaculture industry needs common data standards and a trust-based infrastructure to meet increasing biological and regulatory requirements. The industry faces a number of shared challenges, ranging from changes in water temperature and algal blooms to jellyfish and disease, but also new opportunities arising from the introduction of new technology. The conditions are changing, and the industry must shift to a greater extent from being experience-based to becoming knowledge-based. To do this, we need a broad and representative shared data foundation,” says Thomas Vogth-Eriksen, Director of Aquaculture and Marine Health at DNV.
Invites the industry to participate widely
DNV’s ambition is to ensure the continuation and further development of the values and standards established through AquaCloud. With a broad data set, the industry can gain a better understanding of which measures are actually effective under various biological and environmental conditions. Data on factors such as sea lice counts, lesions, mortality, and causal relationships can contribute to more targeted measures, improved fish welfare, and higher production. A fundamental prerequisite for success is broad access to sufficient and representative data.
– We want as many aquaculture companies as possible to see the value in sharing their data and to trust that it can be done securely through the platform. It is essential that the data represent a significant portion of production so that participants can derive real value through better insights, a basis for comparison, and cross-sector learning. We will therefore work toward broad adoption and invite dialogue,” says Trude Steinbru Heggstad, Head of Digital and Innovation at DNV Aquaculture & Ocean Health.
Based on DNV's experience with secure data platforms
With DNV as the owner, AquaCloud will be managed as part of DNV’s cloud platform, Veracity. The platform was developed for the secure handling and sharing of verified data across organizations and is in use in other industries with high standards for data security and trust. Veracity is currently used by leading shipping companies for the secure handling and reporting of data in accordance with regulatory requirements. The platform stores verified operational data for more than 11,000 vessels.
“Common data standards must be managed within an infrastructure that ensures quality, traceability, and trust over time. Veracity will ensure this and facilitate secure data sharing while giving the stakeholders themselves full control,” says Mikkel Skou, Director of Veracity at DNV.
– A shared platform with aggregated data can serve as a key foundation for the aquaculture industry. It will provide a better basis for site optimization, more precise use of technology, and increased transparency, while also strengthening the industry’s ability to meet new regulatory requirements. “Our ambition is to build on the solid work that has already been done and, in close collaboration with the industry, develop a shared, trust-based data infrastructure that will strengthen competitiveness, sustainability, and fish welfare in the years to come,” concludes Thomas Vogth-Eriksen.
Source: dnv.no
