The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Nutrition and Production Systems group integrates research across feed innovation and farming technologies focusing on growth and nutrient efficiency, health management, and minimising environmental footprint. A key example of this integrated approach was a partnership with Viet-Uc Seafood Corporation in Vietnam, spanning both nutrition and production systems research.
Nutrition-focused research initially employed small-scale, controlled system to optimise formulations and assess dietary ingredients and additives such as Novacq™, a microbial biomass additive developed by CSIRO. These experiments consistently demonstrated improved shrimp growth, survival, and feed efficiency. To enhance commercial relevance, the work progressed to pilot-scale trials that simulated farm conditions. In parallel, CSIRO and Viet-Uc advanced production system research through a series of six commercial-scale experiments. These studies evaluated intensive grow-out systems for Litopenaeus vannamei, incorporating biofloc management, water quality monitoring, sensor technologies, economics and machine learning tools. Outcomes included higher profitability from improved productivity and reduced costs, reduced biosecurity risks, and greater predictability of harvests.
Importantly, in two of these commercial-scale experiments, nutrition treatments and insights gained from the parallel feed research were embedded within the production system trials. This integration enabled evaluation of dietary innovations under farm-scale conditions, providing robust data on how nutrition and system management interact to influence productivity, nutrient efficiency, resilience and profits. Although overlooked, this integrated approach of science domains and scale of research deliver transformative impacts. By progressing from experimental designs to commercial validation, CSIRO and Viet-Uc have developed technology that not only improve shrimp performance but also strengthen the sustainability and profitability of intensive aquaculture systems.