Bangkok-headquartered seafood giant Thai Union has been piloting satellite imaging on shrimp farming operations to evaluate the contribution it could make to increasing the traceability and sustainability of these supply chains.
Conducted in collaboration with satellite data analytics company Sea Warden and supply chain traceability firm Wholechain, the pilot’s aim was to generate key data elements (KDEs) for shrimp farms that are automated, independently verifiable and cost effective.
Thai Union believes that when integrated with traceability technology, satellite-generated KDEs have the potential to support sustainable farming practices through insights into shrimp populations, farm health, contamination etc.
The group also maintains that aquaculture insights from satellite observation are a promising way to reduce risk and reach sustainability targets.
“Accessing reliable information for shrimp farms across wide geographies can be both challenging and expensive. We see exciting potential in the use of satellite imaging to improve our transparency, assess risk and monitor the performance of our shrimp farms. We will continue to explore ways to use satellite technology as it continues to evolve,” Thai Union Director of Sustainability, Adam Brennan, said.
Sea Warden and Wholechain have created a list of KDEs that cross-reference those attainable through satellite observation with those required by the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST), Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) and the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), as well as additional KDEs that represent opportunities for substantiating environmental, social and governance (ESG) targets for seafood industry stakeholders.
During the pilot, Sea Warden applied machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques to generate KDEs based on 24 months of historic production activity at multiple shrimp farms within Thai Union’s network.
According to Sea Warden Co-founder, Zack Dinh, satellite-derived KDEs are a simple and independent way for retailers, certifiers, and processors to provide greater farm-level transparency.
“Satellite data maximises investments into traceability systems like Wholechain’s blockchain technology to more effectively reduce risk and increase confidence across the supply chain,” he said.
