Solving cost challenges in aquaculture by smart nutrition

Technology-driven aquaculture management

The Department of Agriculture and Environment of Can Tho City recently organized the seminar “Smart nutrition - Proactive health management for aquaculture 4.0” as part of VietAgros 2026. The event attracted a large number of experts, scientists, businesses, and aquaculture farmers from across the Mekong Delta region.

According to Quach Thi Thanh Binh, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Can Tho City, aquaculture has long been a key economic sector, making a significant contribution to Vietnam’s agricultural export earnings while providing livelihoods for millions of households in the Mekong Delta.

However, the aquaculture sector is facing a number of significant challenges. Input costs, particularly aquaculture feed, continue to fluctuate and currently account for 65–70% of total production expenses. At the same time, increasingly severe impacts from climate change, saltwater intrusion, water pollution, and emerging diseases are creating greater risks for farmers.

Ms. Binh emphasized that sustainable growth in the aquaculture industry can no longer rely on resource-intensive production models or traditional farming experience alone. Instead, the sector must accelerate its transition toward green agriculture, a circular economy, and the application of advanced technologies.

“Smart nutrition” and “Proactive health management” are regarded as core pillars of Aquaculture 4.0. Smart nutrition uses modern technologies, IoT sensor networks, and AI to precisely manage feeding regimens for individual ponds and specific stages in aquatic species development.

This approach helps optimize the feed conversion ratio (FCR), reduce feed losses, and minimize organic waste discharged into the environment. As a result, it lowers production costs while improving profitability for aquaculture farmers.

“Proactive health management” represents a fundamental shift in mindset from treating disease to preventing it. The use of probiotics, beneficial microorganisms, and natural immune-boosting solutions helps build a stable pond ecosystem, reducing reliance on chemicals and antibiotics. This is also an essential requirement for Vietnamese seafood products to meet increasingly stringent green and clean standards in export markets.

As the economic and science–technology hub of the Mekong Delta, Can Tho City is actively promoting innovative agricultural models. The recently issued Resolution No. 08/2026/NQ-HĐND of the Can Tho People’s Council has also concretized several policies to support enterprises, cooperatives, cooperative groups, and farmers in investing in digital technology applications for agricultural production.

Precision nutrition: key to cost reduction

Experts note that precision nutrition plays a crucial role in improving aquaculture efficiency. According to Dr. Tran Ngoc Thien Kim, Director of Aquaculture Nutrition and Technical Support for Asia at De Heus Vietnam, precision nutrition is not merely about selecting high-quality ingredients, but rather the art of balancing the nutritional needs of aquatic animals, ingredient characteristics, and economic efficiency.

Nutritional requirements for shrimp and fish vary by species, growth stages, and farming conditions. Therefore, no single feed formula can be suitable for all stages of development.

To develop optimal feeding regimes, enterprises must conduct in-depth research into the digestibility and nutrient-absorption capacity of aquatic species, as well as the quality of each raw material. Even within the same ingredient the digestibility and nutritional value can vary significantly between batches.

“Precision nutrition is a balancing process that ensures both the nutritional needs of aquatic animals are met while also guaranteeing ingredient quality, food safety, and economic efficiency,” Dr. Thien Kim emphasized.

According to Vo Van Be, Deputy Director of the Agricultural Extension and Services Center of Can Tho City, feed currently represents the largest cost in shrimp farming. At the same time, many common diseases - intestinal diseases are closely linked to nutrition and feeding practices.

He noted that in recent years, dangerous shrimp diseases have continued to cause significant losses for farmers. Therefore, the most effective solution is early prevention through proper nutritional management, appropriate use of probiotics, and the development of a stable farming environment.

Meanwhile, Prof. Dr. Tran Thi Thanh Hien from the College of Aquaculture, Can Tho University, noted that aquatic species can directly absorb minerals from the surrounding water. As a result, shrimp mineral requirements are not fixed but vary depending on salinity levels and environmental conditions in each farming area.

In the future, aquaculture feed will need to be designed with greater precision, tailored to specific environmental conditions, to improve nutrient absorption efficiency and overall production performance. Although this approach still faces challenges due to higher production costs, it represents an inevitable trend in modern aquaculture development.

“Transitioning to a model of smart nutrition and proactive health management is no longer an option but an urgent requirement. This is considered a key foundation for the Mekong Delta’s aquaculture sector to enhance competitiveness, reduce production costs, adapt to climate change, and move toward sustainable development in the digital era,” said Prof. Dr. Tran Thi Thanh Hien.