A collaboration project between the Technology Centre in Industrial and Agricultural Machinery (Maqcentre), the Federation of Exporters of Agricultural Machinery of Catalonia (FEMAC) and the Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA) has developed a low-cost machine that will help improve the efficiency of aquaculture crops in Mexico. "Aero Feeder" is the name of this prototype and it is a Catalan R & D success story that will help increase competitiveness in developing countries.
As part of the project "1st Catalan Pyramid Base Mission" the agency ACC1Ó, Maqcentre - a technology centre, IRTA - a research institute affiliated to the Ministry of Agriculture of the Government of Catalonia and FEMAC - an Agriculture industry association have designed and built "Aero Feeder," a machine that improves water oxygenation and the homogeneous distribution of feed in aquaculture prawn crops.
In the breeding facilities of these shellfish, lack of oxygen is one of the most critical factors in terms of mortality, reducing productivity per square meter of crop. The main cause of low oxygen levels in water is the huge demand of it due to high number of individuals, high levels of feeding, excess of aquatic photosynthetic organisms (phytoplankton) or low atmospheric pressure.
Aero Feeder, a prototype that includes paddle wheels for stirring the water and a system to distribute the feed evenly, brings aquaculture producers worldwide an economical solution to improve their crops yield.
The first unit was tested successfully in the shrimp production ponds of ‘El Carrizal’ in Coyuca de Benitez, about 70 miles from the Mexican city of Acapulco. Tests showed that the lake improved qualitatively and quantitatively the feeding of prawns, while doubling their usual levels of productivity.
This new production method, created with the help of IRTA Sant Carles de la Ràpita researchers, brings an added value to these ponds by providing the necessary conditions for the shrimp breeding.
A video of the device operation can be watched at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBayrssPBMw
