Technological innovation in aquaculture is no longer a peripheral element at Seafood Expo Global, which will take place from 21 to 23 April at Fira de Barcelona Gran Via, but is becoming one of the main focal points of the event.
The launch of the new Aquaculture Innovation Zone — previously covered by misPeces — marks a significant shift in how this activity is positioned within the exhibition, which in its 2026 edition reaches record participation levels. Beyond scale — with more than 2,300 exhibiting companies from 86 countries — the key interest for aquaculture professionals will be identifying which solutions are genuinely ready for deployment in production environments.
According to Wynter Courmont, Group Vice President for Seafood at Diversified, the organiser of the event, the new space is designed to connect companies, investors and policymakers with “the ideas and technologies that will define the future of the sector”, reinforcing the role of innovation as a core driver in aquaculture.
The zone will bring together companies and start-ups focused on developing technologies for farm management and monitoring, an area where real-time data capture and analysis is increasingly becoming essential for optimising decision-making.
From environmental sensing systems to artificial intelligence platforms applied to feeding strategies or fish behaviour, the focus will be on improving operational efficiency and reducing biological uncertainty.
Another key area will be animal health and welfare, with solutions aimed at prevention, diagnostics and disease control, as well as the development of strategies less dependent on conventional treatments.
At the same time, advances in sustainable aquafeeds will continue to gain visibility, particularly those linked to new raw materials and more efficient formulations.
The zone will also provide an opportunity to identify new technology suppliers, many of them at early stages of development, seeking to validate their solutions with producers, investors and technical decision-makers. This direct interaction makes the space particularly valuable for detecting emerging trends before they consolidate in the market.
Beyond the exhibition area, the conference programme will include aquaculture-focused sessions addressing topics such as digitalisation, sustainability and adaptation to an increasingly demanding regulatory and economic environment.
The combination of technology showcase and strategic insight reinforces the role of the event as a meeting point between innovation and practical application.
In this context, Seafood Expo Global 2026 acts not only as a commercial platform, but also as a space where the sector’s priorities can be anticipated: greater data integration, process automation, and the search for solutions that enable production to scale while maintaining efficiency and sustainability.
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EVENTS
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21AprTue, 21 Apr - Fri, 24 AprGran Via - Fira Barcelona - Barcelona