The problem
Pathogen outbreaks are a constant threat in aquaculture, driving enormous losses across the industry every year. The detection methods farmers rely on are costly, slow and dependent on specialised skills, so they rarely deliver timely, actionable insight. The result is poor disease prevention, environmental damage from overmedication and a real barrier to adopting more sustainable practices, made worse by the training needed to staff large-scale testing.
What we did
We helped build microfluidic biochips that bring pathogen detection on-site, returning results in hours rather than days at a price small farms and large enterprises can both afford. A modular design lets non-specialists run tests without technical training, and real-time cloud integration enables remote monitoring and data sharing so problems can be caught before they spread. The device is built from recyclable materials and optimised for low energy use, in keeping with sustainable aquaculture goals.
The outcome
Farmers can detect threats far faster and act before an outbreak takes hold, reducing economic losses while supporting healthier, more sustainable aquaculture.