The demand for seafood continues to grow every year. The export of seafood has surpassed $120 billion in 2024, which is a 12% increase from 2023 while seafood consumption is expected to grow exponentially through 2050. However, with the increasing demand, stakeholders across the aquafeed industry face several critical challenges in scaling feed production. In this blog, we explore these challenges, how digital solutions can help overcome them, and how we’ve supported global aquafeed businesses on their transformation journeys.

Aquafeed at the crossroads

The aquafeed sector stands at a pivotal moment. From depleting raw material availability and tightening environmental regulations to growing demands for transparency, aquafeed producers are navigating an increasingly complex landscape.

Tied closely to these challenges is the need for sustainability in aquaculture, as rising demand impacts wild fish populations, marine habitats, water quality, and surrounding communities.

Here are some key challenges aquafeed businesses are facing:

Disconnected sites and decentralized manual operations limit real-time visibility

Many aquafeed production facilities still operate in silos, with each site functioning independently and relying heavily on spreadsheets. This setup limits real-time visibility across operations, making it difficult to track performance or respond efficiently to emerging issues. In addition to these inefficiencies, siloed data sources present a major barrier to strategic growth and innovation. When data is trapped in separate systems or inaccessible formats, leadership teams struggle to make informed strategic decisions.

Limited traceability and increasing compliance pressures

With heightened focus on sustainability and food safety, traceability has become non-negotiable. Yet for many producers, limited supply chain visibility and maintaining full transparency—from sourcing raw materials to distributing finished feed—is still a major challenge. At the same time, compliance requirements are becoming increasingly complex. From evolving safety standards to new sustainability certifications (both regional and national) one needs to stay on top of these demands with up-to-date knowledge and strong systems for reporting and documentation.

Manual processes increase risks and reduce responsiveness

Despite advancements in digital transformation, automation etc., many aquafeed facilities still rely on manual operating procedures within their supply chain & production activities.  These outdated methods introduce a higher risk of human error and reduce the efficiency needed to respond to shifting customer demands or supply chain disruptions. Unfortunately, manual systems are not able to keep up anymore. Additionally, as businesses expand at a rate faster than their capacity allows, operations can become inefficient, and quality is compromised.

These challenges not only hinder scalability but also expose businesses to regulatory and reputational risks. Fortunately, a clear and strategic path forward for businesses is the use of digital solutions. Automation, AI, and data analytics offer a powerful lever to not only overcome these challenges but also drive long-term competitiveness and scalability. It enhances operational performance, enables data-driven decision-making, and supports sustainable growth.

How digital technologies are transforming feed operations

According to the Federation of European Aquaculture Producers (FEAP) and the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR), the challenges faced by conventional aquaculture can be overcome with technology. They jointly endorse and promote the adoption of innovation and technology in order to promote an efficient and sustainable aquafeed industry. There are many core technologies that can transform feed production:

1. Process automation for efficiency

Automation plays a pivotal role in eliminating bottlenecks across formulation, batch production, and quality control processes. By automating batch scheduling and compliance checks, aquafeed producers can significantly reduce human error and free up valuable staff time for more strategic tasks. Real-time quality control systems further enhance efficiency by ensuring product consistency and enabling faster responses to deviations. Additionally, integrated ERP systems like Infor M3 CloudSuite provide centralized data management and streamline operations across multiple production sites. Therefore, streamlined feed production enhances overall efficiency.

2. Analytics & AI

Artificial intelligence and advanced analytics are transforming how aquafeed producers operate. AI in aquafeed can predict equipment maintenance needs, minimizing unplanned downtime and optimizing asset utilization. Data-driven insights also allow for more precise feed formulations by integrating data from farms, weather patterns, and market demand. Additionally, analytics improve forecasting for raw material procurement, inventory planning, demand planning, etc. which not only helps reduce costs but also minimizes waste throughout the supply chain.

3. Purpose-built accelerators

Fortude’s accelerator, Ready2Feed, is a ready-to-go ERP accelerator for animal feed manufacturers, offering tailored digital solutions that address the unique needs of the aquafeed industry. This accelerator comes with prebuilt integrations, including the framework for Recipe Management System and Weighbridge integrations, making it easier to connect to key operational systems. It also includes tailored business processes, pre-built data sets, insightful views & documentation that provides accelerated ERP implementation, minimizing risk and increasing ROI for aquafeed operations.

4. Digital advocacy & strategic consulting

Digital transformation is about aligning digital tools with overarching business goals. Fortude supports aquafeed producers in crafting a digital transformation roadmap that reflects their operational maturity and strategic priorities. Through effective change management and phased implementation, Fortude helps mitigate risks commonly associated with digital transitions. To ensure long-term success, they also focus on enabling cultural adoption by training teams to embrace and actively drive digital initiatives.

Real-world impact: Fortude in action

At Fortude, we have helped over 120 businesses across various industries to fast-track their growth with digital solutions tailor-made for their specific needs.

These two success stories showcase how Fortude transformed aquafeed businesses through digital solutions.

Case study 1 – Global aquafeed leader

A top-tier aquafeed producer with 17 production facilities across the world, partnered with Fortude to align its digital strategy with global business objectives. By implementing Infor CloudSuite, they were able to:

• Standardize their ERP for data comparability across different plants.
• Shift their focus from repetitive tasks to value-added activities.
• Have company-wide visibility for better business decisions.
• Improve sustainability goals and minimize waste.
• Enhance cohesion between digital solutions and business operations.
• Have a scalable digital solution in place for dynamic business demands.

Case study 2 – Online aquaculture retailer

A leading e-commerce retailer in aquaculture products, engaged Fortude to revamp their digital transformation strategy in order to modernize their tech infrastructure and ensure uninterrupted business operations and simplified processes. Using Fortude’s Digital maturity assessment, the company:

• Shifted their strategy from short-term sales to long-term loyalty and value, and improved customer experience.
• Facilitated digital adoption through organizational change management and implemented a fully integrated digital ecosystem.
• Implemented risk standards to achieve higher levels of security.
• Evaluated high-priority areas to improve data insights by prioritizing infrastructure upgrades and simplifying workflows.

Getting started: Your digital roadmap

A successful digital journey begins with a clear understanding of where you stand and where you want to go. Fortude offers:

• Digital maturity assessments and consultations to benchmark your current capabilities.
• Tailored roadmaps aligned with strategic business goals.
• End-to-end digital transformation capabilities, including implementation expertise in platforms like Infor M3 / CloudSuite, systems integration, data and analytics, process automation, and ongoing support, delivered with deep industry knowledge in the feed and food & beverage industries.

Whether you’re looking to modernize a single facility or scale transformation globally, Fortude helps minimize your investment risks and accelerate results through enhanced outcomes.

For aquafeed producers aiming to meet the demands of a fast-changing world, digital transformation is essential. It offers far-reaching benefits that extend beyond operational improvements. From full traceability, enhancing quality assurance and building trust across the supply chain, improved feed performance, smarter inventory management, and predictive maintenance, to supporting sustainability goals by cutting down on waste, emissions, and unnecessary resource consumption, and strengthened compliance efforts.

Explore how Fortude can help your aquafeed business embrace digital transformation. Talk to our industry consultants today.