Value-Adding to Pearl Oysters

The Challenge:

Traditionally grown for their high-value pearls, Akoya oysters are emerging as a fast-growing and disease-tolerant species that can be farmed for the restaurant table.

However, selective breeding based on specific traits is time consuming and cost prohibitive, holding back the oyster’s commercial potential.

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The Solution:

This project will deliver the digital tools, databases and genomic breeding values to facilitate industrial-scale breeding programs for the Akoya oyster.

Digital images and NIR (near infrared spectroscopy) will be used to measure oyster growth metrics such as shell size, depth, meat proportion and quality.

AI models and machine-learning will then be applied to develop accurate prediction models for these traits.

Development of rapid, digitally-based genomic tools will inform advanced selective breeding programs, saving farmers money and increasing rate of genetic progress for commercial traits.

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Outcomes:

• Near-field infrared (NIR) models that estimate meat quality parameters such as oyster meat glycogen and lipid levels.
• SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) genomic array and genotype database for Akoya oysters.
• AI-based genomic prediction models that establish the relationships between phenotypes and genotypes and accurately predict genomic-selection programs.

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For more information contact: projects@foodagility.com