AquaBiotic

AquaBiotic offers a novel way to address antibiotic resistance in aquaculture by incorporating probiotics and prebiotics into fish feed. This sustainable innovation promotes fish health and lessens antibiotic dependency, supporting global efforts to maintain antibiotic efficacy for human and animal well-being. 

AquaBiotic is led by visionary microbiologist Angel Bilaro. With an expertise in aquatic microbial ecosystems, she promotes antibiotic resistance prevention and sustainable aquaculture for a more robust and healthy future.

The escalating threat of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in global aquaculture poses a significant threat to public health, food security, and economic stability. A staggering 90% of bacteria in seawater showcase resistance to one or more antibiotics, with 20% resilient against at least five. The persistence of AMR genes in the environment, even post-antibiotic use, compounds the challenge.

In developing nations, which account for 90% of global aquaculture, insufficient regulations exacerbate the crisis. The surge of extensive drug-resistant (XDR) and multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains, propelled by natural processes and exacerbated by unregulated antibiotic use, intensifies the problem. Roughly 70–80% of antibiotics administered to fish are discharged into water, disrupting microbial communities.

Given that fish contributes 7% to the global protein intake, the 2017 global antimicrobial consumption in aquaculture, at 10,259 tonnes, is anticipated to rise to 13,600 tonnes by 2030.

On a global scale, drug-resistant infections claimed 1.27 million lives in 2019, with projections suggesting a potential annual toll of 10 million deaths by 2050. The economic repercussions are alarming, with a potential annual GDP loss of $3.4 trillion and 24 million more people plunging into extreme poverty by 2030 if AMR is unabated.

AquaBiotic champions a One Health approach. 

Our primary target audience is the vast community of over 26,000 smallholder fish farmers across Tanzania. These individuals, dispersed throughout the country, face unique challenges in sustaining their aquaculture practices. AquaBiotic seeks to support them by providing a sustainable solution to enhance fish health, boost growth, and reduce reliance on antibiotics.

To understand the specific needs of these farmers, we actively engage with local communities through surveys, interviews, and workshops. This participatory approach ensures that the development of AquaBiotic is informed by the firsthand experiences and requirements of the smallholder fish farming community. By fostering open communication and collaboration, we aim to tailor our solution to address the specific challenges faced by these farmers, ensuring that AquaBiotic is not only effective but also practical and accessible in diverse aquaculture settings.

AquaBiotic aims to offer public goods such as eco-friendly practices, open-source technology, and knowledge. First and foremost, our goal of lowering antibiotic resistance in aquaculture contributes to a safer worldwide food supply and enhances public health by lowering the possibility of drug-resistant diseases spreading through ingestion. Second, we use naturally sourced probiotics in our novel approach, and we are dedicated to sharing the knowledge that comes from our research. We intend to release white papers and peer-reviewed research, allowing the general public to access our findings and gaining important new knowledge for the scientific community. In addition, AquaBiotic hopes to serve the larger aquaculture sector by disseminating their probiotic formulations through an open-sourced strategy that encourages accessibility and transparency.

AquaBiotic's solution aims to create tangible impact by addressing the urgent global issue of antimicrobial resistance in aquaculture, with a focus on enhancing fish health, ensuring food security, and promoting environmental sustainability. The primary beneficiaries are the communities engaged in aquaculture, particularly in developing countries where 90% of global aquaculture takes place.

1. Fish Farmers and Aquaculture Communities:

   • Activities: We conduct field trials, training programs, and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
   • Outputs: Implementation of AquaBiotic formulations in aquaculture practices, reduced antibiotic usage, improved fish yields, and enhanced water quality.
   • Outcomes: Increased income for fish farmers, improved livelihoods, and a shift towards sustainable aquaculture practices.

2. Consumers of Aquaculture Products:

   • Activities: AquaBiotic's solution ensures the production of high-quality seafood by reducing antibiotic residues in fish.
   • Outputs: Fish products with improved nutritional quality and reduced antibiotic content.
   • Outcomes: Enhanced consumer health, increased confidence in aquaculture products, and a positive impact on the overall food supply chain.

3. Underserved and Vulnerable Populations:

   • Activities: AquaBiotic's commitment to open-sourced models and free-to-use dashboards ensures accessibility to valuable knowledge and resources.
   • Outputs: Knowledge dissemination, open access to formulation methodologies, and a user-friendly dashboard.
   • Outcomes: Empowerment of underserved communities through access to sustainable aquaculture practices, promoting self-sufficiency and resilience.

AquaBiotic's scaling strategy over the next year and three years centers on a phased approach encompassing refinement, expansion, and global influence. In the first year, we prioritize consolidating learnings from pilot programs, optimizing our probiotic solution, and fostering strategic partnerships. By the end of year one, we aim to have a refined product ready for broader implementation. In the second year, our focus shifts to targeted scaling, extending pilot programs to new regions and cultivating market acceptance. Simultaneously, we plan to enhance our operational capacity and leverage longitudinal data to showcase sustained impact. By the third year, AquaBiotic aims for global expansion, collaborating with international partners, and influencing industry practices on a larger scale. Strategic collaborations, continuous research and development, and a commitment to transparency will underpin our scaling efforts, ensuring AquaBiotic's probiotic solution becomes a global standard for sustainable aquaculture, significantly impacting antibiotic resistance mitigation and fostering environmental resilience.

AquaBiotic is committed to a robust monitoring and evaluation plan to measure success against our impact goals. We employ specific, measurable indicators to track progress, building on insights gained from our pilot and ongoing research:

1. Fish Health Metrics:

   • Indicator: Improved growth rates, reduced disease incidence, and enhanced survival rates in fish.
   • Measurement: Regular assessments of fish health through growth monitoring, disease prevalence analysis, and survival rate calculations.
   • Pilot Performance: Preliminary results from controlled experiments at the University laboratory demonstrate improved growth rates and a decrease in disease incidence among fish fed with AquaBiotic-formulated feed compared to the control group.

2. Antibiotic Reduction:

   • Indicator: Decreased antibiotic usage in aquaculture.
   • Measurement: Monitoring and comparing antibiotic consumption in AquaBiotic-treated fish farms versus conventional practices.
   • Pilot Performance: Initial findings indicate a substantial reduction in antibiotic usage in AquaBiotic-treated environments, validating our approach's efficacy in mitigating antibiotic resistance.

3. Environmental Impact:

   • Indicator: Improved water quality and a decrease in antibiotic discharge into aquatic environments.
   • Measurement: Regular testing of water quality parameters and tracking antibiotic levels in surrounding water bodies.
   • Pilot Performance: Our pilot demonstrates a positive correlation between AquaBiotic implementation and enhanced water quality, showcasing the potential environmental benefits of reduced antibiotic discharge.

AquaBiotic faces several barriers that may impact our goals in the next one or three years:

1. Financial Constraints:

   • Barrier: Limited financial resources for large-scale field trials and commercialization efforts.
   • Mitigation: Seek funding from grants, impact investors, and strategic partnerships. Leverage current research outcomes to attract potential investors, demonstrating the feasibility and impact of AquaBiotic's technology.

2. Regulatory Compliance:

   • Barrier: Evolving and complex regulatory frameworks for aquaculture products.
   • Mitigation: Collaborate with regulatory bodies, ensuring compliance and actively participating in industry discussions. Invest in regulatory affairs expertise to navigate evolving policies and streamline the approval process.

3. Market Acceptance:

   • Barrier: Skepticism or resistance from traditional aquaculture practices.
   • Mitigation: Engage in targeted education and awareness campaigns to showcase the benefits of AquaBiotic. Collaborate with industry influencers, local communities, and key stakeholders to build trust and credibility.
4. Scalability Challenge:

Barrier: Ensuring the scalability of AquaBiotic's technology.

Mitigation: Invest in research and development to enhance scalability. Foster partnership with manufacturing and distribution network. continuously optimising production process to meet increasing demand while maintaining quality standard. 

AquaBiotic is applying to The Trinity Challenge because it uniquely aligns with our mission to address antibiotic resistance in aquaculture, a critical issue with global ramifications. The challenge provides a strategic platform to amplify our impact and overcome specific barriers faced in our endeavor:

1. Global Recognition and Validation:

• Barrier: Gaining international recognition and validation for our innovative solution is vital for scaling impact.
• How The Trinity Challenge Helps: The prestigious nature of The Trinity Challenge offers a global stage to showcase AquaBiotic's work, gaining validation from leading experts, institutions, and potential collaborators. 

2. Collaborations and Networks:

• Barrier: Limited access to influential networks and partnerships hinders our ability to navigate regulatory landscapes and reach key stakeholders.
• How The Trinity Challenge Helps: By connecting with The Trinity Challenge's network of diverse stakeholders, including academics, industry leaders, and policymakers, AquaBiotic can establish crucial collaborations.

3. Funding Opportunities:

• Barrier: Securing sufficient funding to advance our research, scale pilot programs, and drive global expansion poses a financial challenge.
• How The Trinity Challenge Helps: The Trinity Challenge provides an opportunity to access substantial funding, enabling AquaBiotic to further refine our solution, expand pilot programs, and advance toward commercialisation. 

AquaBiotic envisions impactful collaborations with esteemed organizations to propel the initiation, acceleration, and scaling of our solution. Collaboration with Solve at MIT offers a platform for global exposure, fostering innovation, and connecting with potential partners and funders. Engaging with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation provides access to critical resources, expertise, and networks in sustainable agriculture and global health. Imperial College London brings forth cutting-edge research capabilities and academic collaboration, enriching our scientific foundation. These partnerships will amplify AquaBiotic's reach, enabling cross-disciplinary insights, and accelerating the translation of our probiotic solution into scalable, real-world applications. By leveraging the strengths of these organizations, AquaBiotic aims to strengthen its impact on mitigating antibiotic resistance in aquaculture, contributing to global food security and environmental sustainability.