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The Australian Research Council Industrial Transformation Research Hub (ARC ITRH) for Supercharging Tropical Aquaculture through Genetics is a consortium involving researchers and industry from James Cook University, University of Queensland, Australian Genome Research Facility, Mainstream Aquaculture, The Company One, Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm, and Sea Forest.

The Research hub will work with pearl oysters, barramundi, seaweed, and grouper species with the aim to apply various genetic and technological approaches to boost productivity of farming, improve breeding outcomes and lower risks associated with disease.

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News and Events

AI to revolutionise barramundi farming

Wed, 12 2023, UQ QAAFI Media Release

Computer simulations are key to bringing aquaculture into line with genetic advances being made in land-based agriculture, according to a University of Queensland researcher.

PhD candidate Jessica Hintzsche from UQ’s Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI) is using software to virtually model the genetic tools available to barramundi farming, in collaboration with the ARC Research Hub for Supercharging Tropical Aquaculture at James Cook University and MainStream Aquaculture.

“We are creating the farm’s virtual twin – a 3D digital replica of the real thing to allow us to run simulations,” Ms Hintzsche said.

“The benefit of a digital twin is that we can test the impact of different genomic technologies such as parental selection and harvesting options before they are rolled out on the farm.

“It would allow producers to make decisions about how to take their business to the next level with healthy fish populations.”

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ARC Research Hub supercharges the tropical aquaculture industry through genetics

Tue, 15 Nov 2022, ARC Media Release

The Australian Research Council (ARC) Chief Executive Officer, Ms Judi Zielke PSM, today welcomed the launch of the ARC Research Hub for Supercharging Tropical Aquaculture through Genetic Solutions.

The Research Hub was officially launched at The Company One’s facility in Cairns today by Dr Robert Mun, ARC Executive Director for Engineering and Information Sciences.

Led by James Cook University, the Research Hub is driving genetic solutions for improving aquaculture industry breeding outcomes and lowering risks from disease.  The research will involve work with five species (pearl oysters, barramundi, prawns, seaweed, and grouper) with the aim to boost productivity of farming, improve breeding outcomes and lower risks associated with disease with key industry partners.  The projects will deliver outcomes that include selection of genetic lines for fast growth, product quality and pathogen tolerance, improve hatchery breeding processes, improve biosecurity and lower threat of disease.

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James Cook University has officially launched its new research hub that will use advanced genetic techniques and artificial intelligence to boost northern Australia’s aquaculture industry.

Tue, 15 Nov 2022, JCU Media Release

The Director of the new Research Hub, Professor Dean Jerry, said $4.9 million of funding from the Australian Research Council through their Industrial Transformation Research Program has helped establish the ARC Research Hub for Supercharging Tropical Aquaculture through Genetic Solutions.

“The hub will apply modern genetic, selective breeding and artificial intelligence approaches to dramatically improve the productivity of farming four important northern Australian aquaculture species, namely barramundi, pearl oyster, grouper and marine red-algae,” said Professor Jerry.

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$5m grant to turbocharge aquaculture research in the north

Tue, 27 Jul 2021, JCU Media Release

The farming of fast-growing, highly efficient aquaculture species that are able to resist the impacts of costly diseases will soon become a reality, with James Cook University and partners awarded $4.9 million from the Australian Research Council through their Industrial Transformation Research Program.

The Director of the new Research Hub, Professor Dean Jerry, said the funding will establish the “ARC Research Hub for Supercharging Tropical Aquaculture through Genetic Solutions”, which will be funded for 5 years and work to transform the productivity of aquaculture species farmed in the north.

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