SalmoSim, a salmon simulator start-up, has secured its first commercial contract with Calysta, supporting trials for a sustainable alternative protein source for the aquaculture industry.
Using a gut simulator that mimics the digestive tract of Atlantic salmon, SalmoSim will conduct a trial of Calysta’s FeedKind protein, which is made by fermenting natural gas.
SalmoSim tests are designed to supplement live, in vivo, salmon feed trials, which can take up to six months and cost £150,000. By comparison, the simulator is significantly quicker and more cost effective.
Dr Martin Llewellyn, founder of SalmoSim and senior lecturer at the University of Glasgow where the tests will take place, said that the gut simulation system provided a powerful tool for carrying out research into fish digestion. “In this case, we’ll be looking specifically at batch control to provide data that will support the full-scale manufacturing of FeedKind,” he said.
“SalmoSim can help feed manufacturers with an important pre-screening phase, allowing them to eliminate unviable options without the time and expense associated with full-scale tests,” he added.
The simulator was first developed as part of a collaborative research project that began in 2016, funded in part by the Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre. As well as supporting trials for alternative feed sources, SalmoSim could be used to tackle a range of challenges including trialling novel approaches to limit the impact of sea lice.
