Industry collaboration contributes to thriving sector, independent review finds. An £8.5m project to boost health and welfare in farmed salmon is contributing to a sector in which innovation spend has surged to almost £200 million within a decade, according to an independent report.Innovation has broadened across every major area of salmon farming, the review into the sector concludes.Genetics and breeding programmes have advanced in parallel, according to the report conducted by research consultancy Frontline and commissioned by the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC) and trade body Salmon Scotland.Current commitments to aquaculture innovation include a large-scale study to breed salmon that are more resilient to local farming challenges, conducted by the Roslin Institute and Mowi Scotland and supported by the BBSRC Business and Academia Partnership Prosperity Programme. This project adds to a rich legacy of pioneering aquaculture research at the Roslin Institute, including breeding salmon to be resistant to the viral disease infectious pancreatic necrosis, which has led to near-eradication in farmed stocks, enhancing animal welfare and saving millions of pounds. Joint projects In total, 268 publicly supported projects worth more than £183 million have been delivered since 2018 by salmon producers, supply chain businesses, universities, and public funders working in partnership, the report outlines.Much of the work has been carried out jointly by salmon producers and Scotland’s universities, spanning faster disease detection, improved breeding strategies, and enhanced environmental monitoring.The figure excludes projects funded entirely by companies, meaning overall spending on new technology is likely to be significantly higher. Tangible benefits More than £83 million has gone into fish health and welfare alone, supporting work on vaccines, diagnostics, welfare tools, and disease prevention.Researchers and businesses involved say the work is already delivering practical results, from new tools to identify high performing fish to technologies that enhance fish health and welfare, as well as education programmes in regional schools.The review warns that innovation can still be slowed by short-term funding and lengthy regulatory processes, and calls for longer-term support and faster routes to trials if momentum is to continue. I welcome this report’s endorsement of the positive impact of long running public investment in aquaculture innovation.Scottish salmon aquaculture is a highly agile sector, constantly adapting to the complex marine environment – and it is able to do that because of the focus collectively put on generating world class aquaculture science. The changing marine environment continues to present challenges, and Scotland’s track record of innovation indicates the sector will rise to those challenges to ensure the sustainable development of aquaculture into the future. Mairi Gougeon Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs Our collaborative study with Mowi enables fundamental research into salmon health and resilience at a scale that would not otherwise be possible. Partnerships between academia and industry can deliver real benefits for fundamental science, to benefit animals, industry, consumers and regional communities. Dr Nick Wade Reader in Aquaculture Genetics, Roslin Institute This report demonstrates the strength and maturity of Scotland’s aquaculture innovation system … The volume of activity and the speed at which new ideas are being developed show exceptional collaboration across industry and academia. Sarah Riddle Head of Research and Innovation, Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre The Roslin Institute receives strategic investment funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and it is part of the University of Edinburgh’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. Related links An independent review of innovations in Scottish aquaculture since 2018 Image credit: Salmon Scotland Tags Roslin Publication date 23 Feb, 2026
