Curtains Up for Innovation Theatre at Aquaculture UK

Aquaculture UK has unveiled the programme for its Innovation Theatre, a showcase for the fast-changing technology driving the sector globally. Located within the main exhibition space at Glasgow’s Scottish Event Campus (SEC), the Innovation Theatre will run over the two days of Aquaculture UK, from June 16-17, and is free to attend. The focus will be on an ever-evolving era of digitalisation and unprecedented advances as the aquaculture community gathers for its leading UK trade show.




Setting the scene on day one, TidalX will explore the ‘autonomous pen’, an all-in-one robotic platform that provides continuous monitoring of welfare, sea lice, growth, and behaviour.

The Future of Feed is next up, with a panel led by BioMar UK Technical Director John Tinsley delving into the opportunities provided by AI, GM, regenerative agriculture, and more.

And the role of low-trophic aquaculture will be discussed by leading lights in the shellfish and seaweed farming sectors, as they examine how to fund and scale ecosystem services.

Day one continues with underwater technology pioneer Sonardyne explaining its approach to offshore aquaculture to meet the sector’s increasing demands for enhanced communications, monitoring technology, and providing more capability in less equipment and the means to remotely access meaningful data.

And, not to be missed, the Decapod Aquaculture Forum will be launched at the show, with a team of researchers, industry professionals, and policymakers marking the new cross-sector network.

On day two, Benchmark Genetics, in its session on accelerating aquaculture genetics, will highlight its multi-species genotyping solutions supporting diverse breeding programmes.

Investigating technological developments in the sector, SAIC (the Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Cluster) has assembled a panel in partnership with the National Robotarium to consider how fish farmers can harness the potential of robotics, automation, AI and machine learning.

The UK Agri-Tech Centre’s Martin Sutcliffe, meanwhile, will lead a discussion on innovation in practice, and what enables new ideas and inventions to mature, scale and deliver impact for producers.

Applied genomics is the subject of a presentation by Mowi, whose senior environmental analyst, Laura Tulip, will report on the operational deployment of eDNA across Mowi farms, which is providing regulators with auditable evidence of ecosystem conditions.

In other sessions, Sustainable Solutions will outline waste-to-energy processes conducted at a Scottish hatchery; and water treatment specialist Veolia will detail its data-driven water optimisation solutions.

As well as the Innovation Theatre, Aquaculture UK will also host its two-day keynote conference programme in the Keynote Theatre, situated within the SEC.

The move from its former base in Aviemore to the vibrant hub of Glasgow opens a new chapter for Aquaculture UK. With more than 250 exhibitors from over 20 countries already signed up, the show is expected to attract record crowds from across the country and around the world.

Cheri Arvonio, Event Director at show organiser Diversified Communications, said: ‘Our Innovation Theatre offers a preview of tomorrow’s world today, covering a wide scope of current research and technological breakthroughs in aquaculture.

‘Expectations are high for trailblazing ideas and lively debates as the brightest minds in the business get together at Aquaculture UK’s new home in Glasgow next month.’

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Location: Glasgow, UK