Day 1 :
Keynote Forum
Niels O G Jørgensen
University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Keynote: Off-flavours in rainbow trout production systems with water recirculation: Occurrence, production and removal
Time : 11:40
Biography:
Niels O G Jørgensen is an Associate Professor of Aquatic Microbial Ecology at University of Copenhagen, Denmark. His research focuses on ecology of microorganisms producing geosmin and other off-flavours in aquaculture systems and water reservoirs and on production and cycling of organic compounds by microorganisms in aquatic ecosystems. The research on off-flavours is conducted in collaboration with international partners at universities and the aquaculture industry in Brazil, Bangladesh and Australia
Abstract:
Geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) are common taste-and-odour compounds (TOCs) in many freshwater aquaculture systems especially when water recirculation is applied. The earthy and mildewed off-flavours may spoil fish stocks in both recirculated tank systems and in open fishponds. In this presentation, status on composition, occurrence and production of TOCs in trout breeding in recirculated systems is given. Also, procedures for reduction of TOCs in water and fish are presented. A major source of TOCs is Cyanobacteria (also known as blue-green algae) but recent studies indicate that various groups of non-photosynthetic microbes, especially filamentous bacteria belonging to the Streptomyces genus as well as other genera of bacteria, also contribute TOCs in recirculated aquaculture systems. Despite studies on biology and physiology of many potential TOC-producing organisms there is a limited knowledge on mechanisms that stimulate and control the production of TOCs in tanks and ponds. However, new molecular approaches appear to have a large potential for identification of dominant TOC-producing microorganisms. Further, a recently developed technique for quantification of TOCs (small stir bars with absorbing material) allows for detection of TOCs at small-scale resolution and help identification of TOC-producing hot-spots in aquaculture systems. These new developments are important tools in mitigating of TOC problems and may ensure that fish from aquaculture breeding remains attractive to consumers.
Keynote Forum
K Heimann
James Cook University, Australia
Keynote: Microalgae biotechnology – Drivers for the aquaculture industry
Time : 11:00
Biography:
K Heimann established and is the director of the North Queensland Algal Identification/Culturing Facility at James Cook University, Townsville, Australia and initiated and built the AMCRC microalgal carbon capture and leads the methane bioremediation project at JCU. The biomass is used for commercial algal co-products. She received competitive research funding of more than $16 million. She has published extensively in high ranking journals including Nature. Her research has won many awards, the NQ Corporate Business Women Award 2011 being the latest
Abstract:
The world population is predicted to expand from 7 to ~9 billion people by 2050 which is likely to result in significant increased demands for food (70%), fuel (50%) and fresh water (30%). Feeding the growing world population will require increases in agricultural crop productivities as arable land resources are limited and continued urbanisation and industrialisation has led into declines in Australia’s farmland over the last four decades, following world trends. Increasing crop productivities is further challenged by predicted freshwater resource scarcity and greenhouse gas (GHG)-induced climate instability, i.e. the increase and/or severity of ‘freak’ weather events, such as storms, prolonged droughts etc.. Maintaining and increasing Australian crop productivities will inevitably require, fertilisation, the production of which was estimated to contribute 1.2% of the total GHG emissions due to energy requirements. Algae are heralded as the potential saviours of the world’s ailmentsdue to photosynthetic cultivation on non-arable land using non-potable water (saline, brackish, industrial waste waters). Algal cultivation remediates CO2 GHG pollution (1.83 t CO2 per t biomass dry weight) and nutrient- or metal-rich waste waters. Amongst the various algal products that can be derived from the biomass, fertiliser production is an immediate and readily implementable product pathway offering potential for regional agricultural communities to become self-sufficient and independent of costly imports. This key-note will compare productivities of traditional and novel cultivation and processing pathways highlighting where biotechnological production processes can improve traditional aquaculture and generatenew market opportunities for expansion of aquaculture into hitherto non-traditional aquaculture markets.