
The Nueva Pescanova Group has opened the first private aquaculture research centre in Spain at O Grove, Pontevedra.With an investment of EUR7.5m, this will position the company at the forefront of aquaculture research worldwide, becoming a reference centre in the improvement of health, nutrition, animal welfare, sustainability, and new farming species, according to a press release.
The centre has a surface area of 4,000 square metres with a solar photovoltaic park for self-consumption made up of 714 modules with an annual energy production capacity of almost 300,000 kWh, which will avoid the emission of CO2 that is equivalent to planting more than 7,000 trees. It is home to more than 40 researchers who have already achieved the world milestone of completing, for the first time in history, the octopus reproduction cycle in aquaculture, managing to ensure that not only the specimens born in Nueva Pescanova have reached adulthood, but that they can reproduce outside their natural habitat. To date, work is already underway with the fifth generation of octopuses (Lourditas, the first octopus to be born in aquaculture, grow up and become a mother in Nueva Pescanova, already has great-great-grandchildren who have just become parents themselves). The Nueva Pescanova Group will commercialise the world’s first octopus born in aquaculture in summer 2022.
Pescanova Biomarine is working on several projects in collaboration with technology partners, universities and research centers to achieve progress in digital transformation and sustainability. These include the work carried out with Artificial Intelligence and Big Data technologies in shrimp aquaculture alongside Microsoft. 100% of the processes can now be monitored automatically and in real time, boosting the efficiency and sustainability of the farms, guaranteeing food traceability and improving animal health and welfare.