The Centre for Research in Robotics and Underwater Technologies (CIRTESU) at the Universitat Jaume I in Castelló has developed an experimental modular, bio-inspired robotic fish prototype (UJIFISH) for inspection, hybrid teleoperation and sensor deployment in aquaculture. Its innovation lies in a functional design that eliminates stress factors such as propellers and high-intensity lighting, while maintaining high standards of modularity and interoperability.

The biomimetic platform has been designed to minimise environmental disturbance and reduce stress in fish by using bio-inspired undulatory propulsion, which lowers mechanical noise, hydraulic turbulence and physical disruption. The system is equipped with a modular sensing system for real-time data acquisition and image transmission, with hybrid communication capabilities via cable or acoustic modem. It features a panoramic vision system with a 180-degree field of view and can operate at depths of up to 20 metres, with remote control ranges of up to 150 metres vertically and 500 metres horizontally.

UJIFISH incorporates sensors for continuous measurement of water temperature and depth, with the option to integrate additional sensors to monitor parameters such as salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen and gases. It enables direct inspection of net structures and monitoring of environmental conditions around fish, and includes a deployment system for transporting and releasing auxiliary components at specific locations. Its geometry and movement have been scaled to match adult fish, producing smoother hydrodynamic profiles and reducing acoustic disturbance.

Experimental results have confirmed the prototype’s functional viability, demonstrating high manoeuvrability and reliable target detection accuracy in controlled tests involving net inspection, teleoperation, data collection and sensor deployment. According to the research team, the flexibility of UJIFISH-I is essential in aquaculture environments, where monitoring requirements and technological constraints vary depending on species, infrastructure and environmental conditions.

Agricultural economists and food scientists with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture teamed up for a study surveying multiple generations on their thoughts of wine packaging. The study, published in the journal Cleaner and Responsible Consumption, shows that, in general, there is a perception that quality wine comes in glass bottles but “that perception can change slowly as new and innovative packaging for wine becomes available,” said Renee Threlfall, one of the study’s authors and a research scientist in enology and viticulture. The study suggests that providing sustainability information about packaging can influence how much consumers are willing to pay, with both positive and negative results for alternative packaging.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture recently awarded vegetable breeder Ainong Shi and a team of researchers with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture a $615,000, three-year grant to continue efforts to identify spinach cultivars tolerant of multiple Pythium species. The fungus-like pathogen effects soil-grown spinach but also thrives in moist conditions, making it especially problematic for indoor growers using greenhouses, hydroponics or vertical-farming systems. Shi uses a data-driven approach to estimate Pythium tolerance and evaluate multiple genomic prediction models. The practice speeds up the selection process for growing promising candidates.