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Aquaculture Validation stage (open to deployment enquiries)

For aquaculture and seedling producers

Stable, high-density cultivation of feed microalgae, and short-term land-based fattening of oysters and other bivalves. We provide Bloomo, our AI-controlled algae cultivation unit, together with the know-how to run it.

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Current stage

Validation stage (open to deployment enquiries)

A demonstration facility for short-term oyster fattening is running in Nagahama (unveiled in February 2025 and covered by several newspapers and TV). Fattening, feed and seedling production are being validated under MAFF’s SME Innovation Promotion Program (SBIR Phase 3 fund; subsidy of up to ¥1.247 billion through March 2028).

Challenges in this industry

Unstable feed-algae cultures

Cultures crash easily with season and weather, and management tends to rely on manual work and experience.

Thinning, mortality and uneven quality

Feed shortage from cleaner coastal waters and high water temperatures make size and quality at shipment unstable.

Securing seedlings

Wild spat collection is becoming less reliable, so planned seedling production matters more.

Timing shipments and keeping quality

Producers need to adjust shipment timing and maintain quality for distribution and export.

What Novelgen can offer

Bloomo (feed production)

A unit that cultivates and supplies high-density algae continuously, with automatic control of light, temperature and nutrients.

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Short-term fattening system

Fattens weakened or immature bivalves on land to bring them up to shipping quality.

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Bloomo Cloud (remote monitoring)

Continuously monitors cultures and detects early signs of trouble to keep operations stable.

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Evidence and public information

Microalgae are an essential feed for bivalves, crustaceans and larval fish, and their nutritional value as feed is documented in peer-reviewed literature. The operation of the demonstration facility is confirmed by independent press coverage.

Feed production units (business model, literature) Media coverage & awards

References

  1. Ma X., et al. Microalgae as feed sources and feed additives for sustainable aquaculture. Reviews in Aquaculture, 2024, 16(2), 818–835. doi:10.1111/raq.12869
  2. Ahmad A., et al. An overview of microalgae biomass as a sustainable aquaculture feed ingredient. Bioengineered, 2022, 13(4), 9521–9547. doi:10.1080/21655979.2022.2061148

How a PoC works

  1. STEP 1

    Discovery

    We learn about your species, production scale, current feeding or fattening method and the problems you face.

  2. STEP 2

    Desk assessment

    We size the algae volume needed and plan a configuration around space, power and water supply.

  3. STEP 3

    Trial deployment

    A trial starting from a single Bloomo unit confirms cultivation and feeding on site.

  4. STEP 4

    Full deployment and support

    We agree the scale, deploy, and embed operations with remote monitoring and start-up support.

What to prepare

  • Target species and production scale
  • Water-quality data for the seawater or water you use (salinity, temperature, etc.)
  • Installation space, power, water supply and drainage
  • Your current feeding or fattening method and its problems

Frequently asked questions

Which species do you support?
Validation focuses on fattening and seedling production of oysters and other bivalves. Other species are considered case by case once we understand the species and feeding conditions.
Can we start small?
Yes. A trial can start with a single Bloomo unit. Bloomo is designed for scales from 10⁰ to 10² m³.
What does it cost?
We quote individually based on configuration and scale. Indicative figures are shown on the Bloomo product page.
Do we need specialist knowledge to run it?
Automatic AI control and Bloomo Cloud remote monitoring are designed to reduce the operating burden. We support the start-up phase.
Do you have a track record?
Short-term oyster fattening is being validated at the demonstration facility in Nagahama (covered by the press). Details of individual deployments are shared under NDA.

Note: this page is an overview based on public information. Technical details such as strains, cultivation conditions and individual test data are shared after a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) is signed.

Related pages

Agriculture & fertilizer

Co-development of fertilizer feedstock and soil amendments from algal biomass.

Industrial wastewater

Purify nitrogen- and phosphorus-rich industrial effluent with algae and recover it as a resource.

Anaerobic digestion (digestate)

Recover nitrogen and phosphorus from biogas-plant digestate with microalgae.

Talk to us about aquaculture

You don’t need to have decided the species or scale. Start by telling us about the problem you face.

Talk to us about this industry