Singapore aquaculture farms boost productivity with digital tech

Singapore's aquaculture farms are embracing digital technology and artificial intelligence to enhance productivity and modernize their operations. This technological shift is crucial for strengthening the nation's food production capabilities amidst challenges like manpower shortages and increasing operational costs.

A key development is the SG Farm App, a digital record-keeping platform created by the Singapore Agro-Food Enterprises Federation (SAFEF) and DEX. This app replaces manual logging, allowing farms to meticulously track production, monitor expenses, and improve traceability. It also helps farms meet stringent industry standards.

“

With digitalization, with sensors, the system now can independently gauge how much the animals are eating, how many animals are in a pond, and therefore how much feed to be used.

Artificial intelligence is also optimizing daily farm activities. At Max Koi Farm, sensors analyze shrimp feeding sounds to estimate population and feeding activity. A locally developed AI platform, AquaEasy, processes this data to recommend optimal feed amounts and schedules. "With digitalization, with sensors, the system now can independently gauge how much the animals are eating, how many animals are in a pond, and therefore how much feed to be used," said Ken Cheong, SAFEF chief executive.

“

Traditionally, observing how much the animals are eating is a lot of work (for the farms), in terms of planning, execution and monitoring.

Cheong highlighted that these technologies significantly reduce manual labor. "Traditionally, observing how much the animals are eating is a lot of work (for the farms), in terms of planning, execution and monitoring," he stated. The digital systems provide farmers with a clearer view of stock levels, resource use, and operating costs, enabling better production planning.

The SG Farm App complements these technologies by digitizing records for feed usage, stocking numbers, and harvest volumes. This allows for near real-time tracking of productivity and performance. Accurate, authenticated records are vital for farms seeking industry certifications, such as the Singapore Food Agency's Good Aquaculture Practice for Fish Farming, ultimately boosting their competitiveness.

“

Record-keeping is … key to all standards.