Aquaconnect, Chennai based
pioneer Indian aquaculture technology venture has recognized as one of Fast
Company’s World Changing Ideas 2020. World Changing Ideas Award is a global
award dedicated to honoring the businesses, policies, projects, and concepts
that are actively engaged and deeply committed to flattening the curve when it
comes to the climate crisis, social injustice, or economic inequality.
The
awards and recognitions are given based on the most creative solutions and the
most potential for impact and scalability. Various organizations from across
the globe took part this year with more than 3000 entries. Aquaconnect is one
of the few Asian start-ups to have received this prestigious recognition as an
honourable mention.
Aquaconnect received
this special recognition for an initiative that aims to enhance FarmMOJO’s
disease prediction model in collaboration with Prof. Kenton Morgan and IDH, The
Sustainable Trade Initiative. This project aims to link aquatic epidemiology to
the sector and benefit 120 ha of farm area in India in the next two years.
Considering these initiatives Aquaconnect has been selected as an honoree of
Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas Awards 2020.
“We
are honored and delighted to recognized as one of Fast Company’s World Changing
Ideas. It is truly an endorsement for our initiatives to promote AI for
sustainable aquaculture practices. Our aim is to continuously evolve with the
futuristic technologies that facilitate the best solutions to the problems in
the aquaculture sector”. Said Rajamanohar Somasundaram, CEO, Aquaconnect.
Aquaconnect has
come a long way from its start in 2017, through various technological support
for Indian shrimp & fish farmers, and finally an organization that is
appreciated by the world’s leading progressive business media brand, the Fast
Company. Aquaconnect solves problems related to aquaculture with innovative
technologies and a deep understanding of the ground problems.
This
is not the first time Aquaconnect entered international limelight. The company
won the Indonesian Seafood innovation Project award in 2019. Now Aquaconnect is
all set to sail to the Indonesian shore by the end of 2020.
The
company is a brainchild of Rajamanohar Somasundaram, who is popularly known as
the Aquaman of India for making the AI-driven farm advisory tool more
accessible, for farmers in the rural and coastal regions of the country. World
Economic Forum has recognized him as a “Young Global Leader in 2012” by
considering the leadership and contribution in the field of mobile
communication and information services.
Through
his venture Aquaconnect, Raj and his team are promoting sustainable aquaculture
(growing fish and shrimp) through technology intervention and he envisions
Artificial intelligence technology, IoT, and satellite remote sensing which can
improve the productivity of Indian aquaculture industry and make India the
world's aquaculture hub.