The Nueva Pescanova Group and Microsoft have signed a collaboration agreement whereby both companies will work together to promote the Group’s digital transformation and sustainability, within the framework of its Aquaculture 4.0 Strategic Plan. The objective is to advance, among other things, in the promotion of innovation projects for the protection of the marine environment and to guarantee the sustainability of species by developing new technologies in aquaculture, as well as improving production processes. Most importantly, to encourage a digital culture in the countries where Pescanova develops aquaculture, especially in Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Guatemala, and through the Group’s aquaculture R&D&I center, the Pescanova Biomarine Center in O Grove (Pontevedra, Spain), according to a press release.
Ignacio González, Nueva Pescanova Group CEO, and Pilar López, president of Microsoft Spain, have signed an alliance this morning, whereby both companies will work on the development of innovative solutions to improve the farming of species such as vannamei prawns and Galician turbot. This modernization of current farming techniques, through the incorporation of Artificial Intelligence and Big Data, will allow 100% of the processes to be controlled automatically and in real-time. This will improve the efficiency and sustainability of the crops, facilitate business predictability, guarantee food traceability and improve animal health and welfare.
This seeks to guarantee the long-term sustainability of wild species found in the marine environment, reducing pressure on fishing grounds and thus guaranteeing sustainable, safe, healthy and controlled resources while guaranteeing the supply of protein from the sea. According to FAO data, 47% of the seafood we consume worldwide already comes from aquaculture.
The agreement also includes a commitment by both companies to digital skills training, promoting the training of Nueva Pescanova Group professionals working in aquaculture, so that they can adapt their work methodologies, which until now have been mostly manual, to the use of monitoring tools for water, environmental conditions, the life cycle of species in the aquatic environment, etc. using digital methods and tools.
To this end, they will have the guidance, support and professional technologies and services of Microsoft, which has specifically designed a disruptive technological platform for Nueva Pescanova, in order to create innovative experiences, aimed at boosting high productivity and environmental protection. This Digital Platform for the Nueva Pescanova Group’s Aquaculture 4.0 transformation program is based on cloud, IoT (Internet of Things) and Artificial Intelligence services from Microsoft, such as Azure and Microsoft 365, and aims to revolutionize the seafood industry worldwide.
Likewise, the Nueva Pescanova Group, through the Pescanova Biomarine Center, and Microsoft will explore synergies to promote, connect and generate new business scenarios that dynamize the aquaculture industry, foster innovative experiences for research into the farming of marine species and contribute to the development of entrepreneurial projects, through their respective incubation and acceleration programs.