Why You Care
Imagine losing your entire livelihood because of unseen water quality issues. For aquaculture farmers, this is a constant threat. How can you protect your aquatic livestock without breaking the bank on expensive monitoring equipment?
A new startup, Aquawise, is tackling this essential problem head-on. They are bringing an AI-driven water quality approach to the forefront. This system could significantly impact the profitability and sustainability of fish and shrimp farms globally, directly affecting your food supply chain.
What Actually Happened
Aquawise, a Bangkok-based startup, will present its system at TechCrunch change 2025, as mentioned in the release. This company aims to revolutionize how aquaculture farms monitor water quality. They are targeting farmers in regions like Southeast Asia, where traditional monitoring methods are often too costly.
The core of their system involves using existing satellite images of fish and shrimp farms. These images are then fed into a physics-based AI model. This model continuously monitors vital water parameters. These parameters include temperature, chlorophyll levels, and oxygen levels, according to the announcement. Aquawise offers a hardware-free approach, eliminating the need for farmers to purchase expensive sensors or testing kits.
Why This Matters to You
This creation offers a significant shift from traditional, often intermittent, water quality checks. Aquawise’s system provides continuous monitoring, unlike daily or weekly manual tests. What’s more, it offers tracking and predictive capabilities, helping farmers anticipate problems.
Think of it as having a constant digital guardian for your aquatic farm. For example, if you’re an aquaculture farmer, you could receive alerts about declining oxygen levels before they become essential. This allows for proactive intervention, saving your stock. This continuous insight is invaluable.
“Water quality is one of the most important things in aquaculture,” Patipond Tiyapunjanit, co-founder and CEO of Aquawise, told TechCrunch. “It’s like being a human: You have to breathe. The aquatic life, they are living in the water all the time. If the water quality does not stay at the optimal level, it could cause the stress, it could cause disease outbreak, and a lot of things.”
How much could improved water quality monitoring affect your local seafood prices or the availability of certain fish and shrimp?
Here are some key advantages of the Aquawise system:
- Cost-Effectiveness: No hardware purchases required.
- Continuous Monitoring: Provides real-time data, not just snapshots.
- Predictive Analytics: Helps anticipate potential issues.
- Accessibility: Especially beneficial for farmers in developing regions.
The Surprising Finding
Here’s an interesting twist: the idea for Aquawise originated from a 19-year-old’s passion for shrimp. Patipond Tiyapunjanit, the co-founder and CEO, started the company after a research project on shrimp larvae. This project led to him winning the 2024 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair, as detailed in the blog post.
It’s surprising that such a , AI-driven approach for a major agricultural industry was conceived and developed by a young individual. He met his co-founders, Chanati Jantrachotechatchawan and Kobchai Duangrattanalert, at the 2023 Young Scientist Competition. They were impressed by his work and ultimately advised his winning project. This challenges the assumption that complex industry solutions must always come from seasoned veterans or large research institutions.
What Happens Next
Aquawise will showcase its system at TechCrunch change 2025, scheduled for October 27-29, 2025, in San Francisco. This event provides a significant system for the company to gain visibility and potential investment. Their participation in the Startup Battlefield competition suggests they are ready for wider industry scrutiny and adoption.
For example, imagine a large-scale shrimp farm in Vietnam implementing this system. They could see a significant reduction in disease outbreaks and improved yields within months of deployment. This could lead to more stable production and better market prices.
Farmers in Southeast Asia should watch for pilot programs and early adoption opportunities. The company reports that their system offers tracking and predictions. This could become a standard tool for aquaculture management. The broader industry will likely observe Aquawise’s performance closely. Success here could encourage similar AI-driven solutions in other agricultural sectors. This could mean more efficient and sustainable food production for everyone.