Collaboration on UK RAS-based shrimp farm

Farm 491, an agricultural technology hub based in the Royal Agricultural University, has partnered with Land Ocean Farm, a Gloucestershire based start-up, in a project to create the largest land-based system for shrimp farming in the UK. 

Land Ocean Farm's duties in the project include 'building the technology and the network to produce seafood in a land-based and bio-secure environment in the UK,' Land Ocean Farm explained on Farm 491's website. Their joint project aims to produce healthy, nutritious and sustainable seafood at an affordable price for restaurant, retail and consumer markets.

With an awareness that existing traceability and transparency in the seafood supply chain is poor and requires improvement on gaining a better understanding of chemical, antibiotic and hormone use, Land Ocean Farm aims to combat this by developing bio-secure, land-based production facilities in the UK.

This will reduce environmental impact via reducing the carbon footprint and lessen pressures on natural water resources. Being produced in the UK, for the UK market, ensures that the carbon emissions produced from transporting shrimp containers, are drastically reduced. The land-based facility will be operated by green energy to provide heat and power, while water will be recycled.

Land Ocean Farm aims to build its first plant in 2022, which will mark the largest scale producer in the UK. Co-founder of Land Ocean Farm Rasel Mahmud, said of the project: 'Our success in aquaculture depends on others being successful with us, so we want to collaborate and create that success together.'

Referring to their collaboration with Farm 491, he added: 'Being part of Farm491 has created a spider-web of connections which opens other doors, and with anyone you meet in the network there is an instinctive element of trust and seal of approval which helps accelerate mutual benefit. This is so important, especially for young entrepreneurs who haven't yet built up that network.'

For more information on Land Ocean Farm click, HERE.

For more information on Farm 491 click, HERE.

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