Oceanloop to build land-based white shrimp farm in Spain

The company has obtained a loan of 35 million euros from the European Investment Bank.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has breathed new life into the shrimp farming projects being implemented by the aquaculture company Oceanloop. The granting of a 35-million-euro loan will allow the company to strengthen its market in Germany and expand into Gran Canaria, where it plans to build a large-scale land-based farm to cultivate white shrimp, with a capacity of 2,000 tonnes per year.
The capital will help Oceanloop to accelerate the development of its sustainable recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) technology for indoor farming. In the first phase, the RD&I farm in Kiel, northern Germany, will be expanded, increasing its capacity from 5-60 tonnes per year. In the second phase, the Canary Island farm will be built on an industrial scale. It is expected to be equipped with a wind turbine and solar panels for self-consumption of renewable energy.
Digital technologies
Oceanloop has another pilot plant in Munich, Germany, where it has been based since it was founded in 2012. Its proposal aims to be a quality, sustainable and traceable alternative to products imported from outside the European Union, and one which complies with animal welfare standards. Its innovations include using digital technologies, such as machine vision and artificial intelligence, to detect biomass and stress levels in real time to ensure improved animal welfare.
White shrimp is the most widely cultivated seafood species in the world, with more than five million tonnes produced each year. The EU is dependent on imports from several countries across the world. Oceanloop's land-based cultivation technology consists of software-controlled, modular, scalable and location-independent artificial ecosystems. The waste is reduced by hydrothermal carbonisation to produce a biochar-based fertiliser, a soil improver and anaerobic digestion to produce biogas.
European technology pioneers
EIB Vice-President Nicola Beer explained that the EIB “supports European technology pioneers with European ambitions who are driving innovative solutions”. In this respect, she said, “Oceanloop is a perfect example of our commitment to help emerging and growing companies in their growth phase with the right financing solutions”. Describing the project, she highlighted the reduction of water use and carbon emissions, which “contributes to preserving the environment while producing high quality, protein-rich seafood products on land”.
Oceanloop Founder and CEO Fabian Riedel added, “While the demand for sustainably produced animal protein will increase significantly in the coming years, its sources are particularly at risk today. Decades of overfishing and an unsustainable aquaculture industry that cannot be controlled in times of climate change are creating an increasing risk of supply chain disruptions in Europe. We are delighted that the EU has recognised this and is helping us to bring our innovative technology to industrial-scale commercialisation.”
Photo: Oceanloop