The aquaculture industry faces significant challenges due to infections that lead to production losses and financial setbacks. To address these concerns, KOA Biotech, a Barcelona-based biotechnology company, has raised €2M in a funding round led by Swanlaab Innvierte Agrifood-Tech, with additional investments from Fund-F and Faber. The company plans to use the capital to enhance its technology, strengthen its market position, and expand commercial operations. The investment highlights the growing interest in solutions that improve disease management in aquaculture while promoting sustainable practices.
Similar initiatives have been pursued in the past by different companies in the aquaculture technology sector, with varying degrees of success. Traditional methods for detecting infections in fish farms have often relied on reactive treatments rather than early detection and prevention. While KOA Biotech’s approach introduces a biosensor-driven strategy, other companies have attempted to tackle fish farm infections through genetic research, water quality monitoring, and antibiotic alternatives. The industry continues to evolve with differing technological approaches to manage aquaculture diseases.
How does KOA Biotech’s technology work?
KOA Biotech has created a biosensor system embedded in an autonomous device designed for early detection of infections in aquaculture environments. This system uses living organisms to identify pathogens and a micro-electronic interface to convert the signals into digital data. The platform alerts fish farm operators when pathogen levels exceed a certain threshold, allowing them to take preventive measures before infections spread widely.
The company describes its solution as an innovative hybrid technology that integrates biological detection mechanisms with digital tools. By offering real-time data on pathogen presence, the system helps reduce reliance on antibiotics while minimizing losses caused by disease outbreaks. KOA Biotech emphasizes that this approach provides a more sustainable and efficient method for managing fish farm infections.
Why are investors supporting KOA Biotech?
Investment firms involved in this funding round see potential in KOA Biotech’s technology due to its capacity to optimize resource use and address key challenges in aquaculture. General Partner of Swanlaab Innvierte Agrifood-Tech, Nora Alonso, stated,
“KOA’s innovative technology enables the optimisation of natural resource usage, reduces environmental impact, and addresses critical challenges such as production, food security, and climate change.”
Fund-F and Faber, two international impact funds, also participated in the investment round. Fund-F focuses on supporting gender-diverse teams across Europe, while Faber invests in early-stage deeptech startups with an emphasis on sustainability and digital transformation. Their involvement signals a broader interest in biotechnology solutions that contribute to both economic growth and environmental improvements in the aquaculture sector.
KOA Biotech was founded as a spin-off from Pompeu Fabra University, based on the doctoral research of its founder. The company integrates biotechnology, data engineering, and hardware development to create tools for diagnosing and preventing diseases in aquaculture. Efforts to improve waterborne infection detection align with industry trends emphasizing technological solutions for sustainable fisheries.
As the aquaculture sector continues to grow, the need for effective disease management solutions remains critical. While KOA Biotech’s biosensor technology presents a novel approach, the effectiveness of such systems will depend on adoption rates within the industry and their ability to provide consistent, reliable results. Investors and industry stakeholders are looking for scalable solutions that can enhance fish farm productivity while reducing environmental impact. The success of KOA Biotech’s commercial strategy will determine whether its technology can set a new standard for aquaculture disease prevention.
