Aquaculture Ghent University
Centre of Excellence – Research & Development
Dr. ir. Margriet Drouillon, Business Developer
1 februari 2012
LARVICULTUREof
fish & shellfish
DISEASE CONTROL
NUTRITION
EGG QUALITYbroodstock nutrition
ZOOTECHNICALASPECTS
MICROBIAL CONDITIONSprobionts / pathogens
COMMERCIALCOMPETITIVENESS
UGent Aquaculture R&D Consortium 3 faculties – 12 departments
Aquaculture Ghent University: IOF-consortium
Interfacultair Centre of Excellence
Sustainable Aquaculture – Blue Economy Multidisciplinary 3 faculties 7 research groups; 9 professors ~100 researchers
Blue biotechnology at work for People, Planet and ProfitMorphological development
Aquatic veterinary medicine
Nutritional
research
Genomics
Microbial management
Environmental monitoring
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Industry Improved yields Improved quality Reduced disease
Society Sustainability Food security
Key Partners in Aquaculture Ghent University
Fac. Bio-Science Engineering – Patrick Sorgeloos (promotor)– Peter Bossier (co-promotor)– Colin Janssen– Nico Boon
Fac. Sciences
– Dominique Adriaens– Marnik Vuylsteke
Fac. Veterinary Medicine
– Hans Nauwynck– Annemie Decostere– Wim Van den Broek
Main goals of Aquaculture Ghent University
Increase interaction with industry Building a strategic patent portfolio Valorization of available technology and IP Partnering (industry/stakeholders) Diffusion of knowledge Boosting synergy among members
Sustainable aquaculture – the “learning curve”from an empirical approach to a knowledge-based industry
Bottlenecks for the aquaculture industry:– yields and rentability very variable, still too un predictable – limited knowledge of the biology of the cultured species– limited automation & system control
Husbandry techniques
Nutritional research
Microbial managemen
tBreeding
Priorities for future aquaculture
resulting in new concepts & products for a sustainable aquaculture
from empiricial farming
towards
a knowledge-based bio-industry
1. Complete independence from natural stocks through DOMESTICATION2. Improved / more cost-effective SEED PRODUCTION3. Better targeted SPECIES SELECTION4. Development of more efficient stocks through SELECTIVE BREEDING 5. More MICROBIAL MANAGEMENT for more sustainable production 6. Better understanding of IMMUNE SYSTEMS in vertebrates and
invertebrates7. More INTEGRATED PRODUCTION SYSTEMS for plant and animal farming8. COASTAL AND OFF-SHORE FARMS of food and energy9. Full independence from fisheries stocks for LIPID AND PROTEIN
INGREDIENTS in aquatic feeds 10. More attention for INTEGRATION of restocking activities with FISHERIES
management11. SOCIETAL LEVERAGE:
• multi-stakeholder interaction• International cooperation on a win-win basis
1. Microbial management in larviculture
Goal: health management– Improve larval survival– Alternative techniques for disease prevention
How? By steering host-microbial interactions– Stimulating the host’s immune response
• Immunostimulants: yeast cell wall-bound glucan• Heat shock proteins: upregulate immune system
– Influencing microbial numbers or microbial activity• Polyhydroxybutyric acid• Quorum sensing
2. Morphology
Morphological development of larvae Gastro-intestinal development in larvae
– Artemia (brine shrimp)– Seabass
Opercular deformaties in gilthead seabream
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Methodological testing for in-depth analysis of skeletal deformities
Bone Mineralisation Bone Cell Proliferation Bone Matrix Organisation 3D Characterisation of
deformities 3D Modelling of mechanically
induced deformities Kinematics of vital functions
Based on micro CT data
3. Aquatic Veterinary Medicine
WSSV research
Edwardsiella & Flavobacterium fish diseases
Hydrocephalus in burbot (Lota lota L.) larvae
Swim bladder hyperinflation in burbot (Lota lota L.) larvae
4. Nutritional research
Live food production– Artemia: culturing biology, natural occurrence, production
techniques, strain characterization, nutritional value enrichment; automation in production & cleaning techniques
– Rotifer culture and enrichment – Micro-algae– Special focus on production, nutritional manipulation
(lipids, vitamin C and E)
5. Genomics
Genome sequencing of Artemia
Proof-of-concept as a model organism for Crustaceans
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6. Environmental monitoring & design of integrated concepts
Biofloc technology– Nitrogen recovery– Waste to feed
Biopolymers– Compound poly--hydroxybutyrate (PHB)– Disease control and growth promotion
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For more information: www.aquaculture.ugent.be
Contact: [email protected]