Aquaculture, Animal Health and Agri-tech (AAA)

AAA uses science and technology to create smarter, more sustainable food systems. It focuses on improving the health and productivity of animals and crops, both on land and in water.

Key innovations include:

animal health: tools and treatments to prevent and manage disease;
precision farming: sensors and data to make farming more efficient;
controlled environments: systems like vertical farms and aquaponics;
robotics and AI: automating tasks and supporting better decisions; and
sustainable feed and nutrition: improving welfare and reducing environmental impact.

This sector helps tackle global challenges such as food security, climate change, and resource efficiency, building stronger and more resilient supply chains.

Why here?

The Highlands and Islands region offers distinct advantages for businesses, including close links to end users, faster testing and diagnostics, and strong supply chain collaboration.

Most of Scotland’s salmon, shellfish and seaweed industry is based here. You can use Scotland's aquaculture map to search their locations.

Companies are choosing Inverness, home to Inverness Campus, and Oban, home to the European Marine Science Park, to stay close to customers and research partners.

Academic expertise at Inverness Campus:

Academic expertise at the European Marine Science Park:

Academic expertise can also be found on the Northern Isles at:

Shell-volution on Shetland
UHI’s Agronomy and Agriculture Institute on Orkney

Companies based in the Highlands and Islands

Explore our videos below to find out about companies operating in this sector across our region.

Animal health - Scottish Vet Referrals

Based at Inverness Campus, Scottish Vet Referrals share how their specialist practice has evolved over the last 8 years and and their commitment to continuous innovation in animal health.

Aquaculture – Pharmaq Analytiq

PHARMAQ is the global leader in vaccines and innovation for aquaculture and part of Zoetis, the world’s largest leader in animal health company. In this video, the local PHARMAQ Analytiq team in Inverness showcase their fish health diagnostic services, including PCR and histopathology.

Agri-tech - Rethink Carbon

Rethink Carbon, an Aviemore-based climate-tech startup, has developed a powerful, user-friendly technology platform that helps landowners, communities, investors and policymakers make smarter, faster and more sustainable land use decisions.

Agri-tech

Novel technology for agriculture improves productivity, sustainability and resilience. This report for seed potato growers explores AI enabled optical grading technology, providing the tools to recognise which equipment works best for specific tasks and some considerations when choosing a solution.

View report

Scotland's aquaculture supply chain

Learn about the dynamic supply chain businesses working in Scotland's aquaculture sector. Businesses in the Highlands and Islands are innovating to develop systems and services that meet the needs of their customers and a changing climate alike.

Understanding the sector in Scotland

Produced by SEFARI, this report aims to increase the understanding of the animal health, agri-tech and aquaculture (AAA) sector in Scotland.

View report

Reports

Wild seaweed harvesting - a diversification opportunity for fishermen

Read our report on wild seaweed harvesting as an opportunity for fishermen to diversify. The accompanying kelp atlas shows the locations and type of seaweed located around our coastline.

Wild seaweed harvesting report

Robotics and automation in agriculture

This report summarises insights from workshops with crop, livestock, and potato farmers, reflecting the challenges and priorities they identified. It highlights where farmers see potential for robotics, automation, AI, or improved data use to support their businesses.

Robotics and automation report

Upcoming events

Events for those involved in bioscience and aquaculture

16/06/2026 - 17/06/2026

Aquaculture UK 2026

Time: 09:00am - 05:00pm

Did you know..

AAA in the Highlands and Islands has

10000

jobs in Scotland dependent on salmon farming

aquaculture research organisations

of Scotland's aquaculture production in our region

researchers specialising in animal disease at SRUC Inverness

Looking for support?

We help organisations across the Highlands and Islands to develop and grow within the life sciences sectors. We also help those looking to locate in our region too.

Browse all support services

We support businesses, communities and social enterprises through a range of services, including advice, funding, events and property. Find out how we can help you.

Base your business here

Get support to locate your business in the Highlands and Islands including advice, funding, property and help to make the right business connections.

Contact us

Please get in touch if you need our help or would like to discuss working with us.

Where to next?

Find out more about life sciences and the sub sectors operating across our region.

Life sciences

Supporting the growth of the Life Sciences sector in our region.

Biotechnology

A sustainable future fuelled by natural resources from sea and land.

Digital health, MedTech and diagnostics

Transforming healthcare and driving medical advances.

Feedback

Did you find what you were looking for?

Feedback provided here is anonymous and cannot be replied to. If you have an enquiry and would like us to get back to you, please use our contact us form.

Yes

Your comments

Choose a reason for your feedback

Your comments

Yes, but

Choose a reason for your feedback

Your comments

Sign up to our newsletter to stay up to date with the latest news, funding, investment and development opportunities from across the Highlands and Islands.

Aquaculture, Animal Health and Agri-tech (AAA)

Aquaculture, Animal Health and Agri-tech (AAA)

Why here?