What Riasearch does

Riasearch Lda. is a privately held Portuguese contract-research organization (CRO) founded in 2016 by Renata Serradeiro and headquartered in Murtosa, Aveiro. The company provides in-vivo nutrition and functional trials for fish and shrimp, serving aquaculture feed companies, ingredient suppliers, and fish/shrimp producers across Europe. Its service portfolio includes controlled nutrition trials (growth performance, digestibility via Guelph and INRA methodologies, palatability, immunity), functional and challenge trials (intestinal explants, head-kidney leucocytes, nutritional, physiological and environmental stress models), and RAS technology optimization across 14+ species spanning marine (whiteleg shrimp, gilthead seabream, European seabass, Atlantic salmon, Senegalese sole, turbot, meagre) and freshwater (Nile tilapia, rainbow trout, common carp) environments.

The underlying technology combines state-of-the-art recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) and open-flow experimental facilities — FELASA-certified under EU Directive 2010/63/EU and EFSA guidelines — with an integrated pilot feed mill delivered through the 2022 merger with SPAROS Lda., enabling batches of 10–500 kg of experimental aquafeeds via twin-screw extrusion, cold extrusion, fluid bed granulation, vacuum coating, and microencapsulation. The DigitAQUA Test Bed adds a digital infrastructure layer covering real-time data collection, sensor validation, monitoring platforms, predictive models, and technical training. Two commercial biosensors — NO2Aqua (TRL 9) and NOxAqua (TRL 6) — were launched in April 2024 as outcomes of the NOxAQua project.

Riasearch generates revenue through two streams: per-project fee-based contract-research services sold directly to enterprise clients (quote-based pricing, no public disclosure), and co-promoter allocations from publicly funded R&D consortia across nine named projects (IGNITION, NOxAQua, Aquacombine, FICA, FeedFirst, ShellWin, Bluecomposite, SKINS, ValorMar) funded under EU Horizon 2020/Horizon Europe, Portugal 2020, COMPETE 2020/2030, EEA Grants, Fundo Azul, and Algarve 2030. GTM relies on scientific publications (20+ peer-reviewed papers since 2019) and trade-event presence (VICTAM International, Aquaculture Europe). The team comprises 11 staff including four PhD-level managing partners, with revenue not publicly disclosed.

Name

Riasearch

Legal name

Riasearch Lda.

Website

https://riasearch.pt

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Riasearch is a Portuguese aquaculture contract-research organization providing in-vivo nutrition and functional trials with fish and shrimp, serving feed companies, ingredient suppliers, and producers across Europe through FELASA-certified RAS facilities and a SPAROS-integrated pilot feed mill.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aquaculture Contract Research Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Aquaculture (11251)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro primary industry

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) & Land-Based Farming (AFAEAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) & High-Density Farming Feed (AFADADAL), Shrimp & Prawn Feed (AFADADAB)

Keywords

• Aquaculture contract research
• Aquafeed nutrition trials
• Recirculating aquaculture systems
• Fish and shrimp research
• Experimental feed manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Murtosa

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Contract Research Services: Riasearch generates revenue by providing end-to-end contract research services to aquaculture nutrition and health companies. Services include nutrition trials, functional trials, experimental feed manufacturing, RAS technology consulting, and analytics. Clients include aquaculture feed companies, ingredient suppliers, and fish/shrimp producers. Pricing is quote-based and project-specific.
2. R&D Project Funding: Riasearch participates as a co-promoter or beneficiary entity in publicly funded R&D projects (EU Horizon 2020, Portugal 2020, COMPETE 2020, EEA Grants, Fundo Azul, Algarve 2030, COMPETE 2030), contributing to revenue. Projects include IGNITION, NOxAQua, Aquacombine, FICA, FeedFirst, ShellWin, Bluecomposite, SKINS, and ValorMar.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Riasearch is a contract-research organization (CRO) providing in vivo nutrition and functional trials with fish and shrimp for the aquaculture industry. Services span trial design, custom experimental feed manufacturing, RAS technology consulting, and full analytics, enabled by proprietary facilities and FELASA-certified personnel. The company also operates the DigitAQUA digital test bed and co-developed NO2Aqua/NOxAqua nitrogen biosensors for RAS monitoring.

Product overview

Riasearch operates as a contract-research organization (CRO) offering an integrated suite of aquaculture nutrition and health research services. The core offering centers on in vivo nutrition and functional trials with fish and shrimp, supported by proprietary experimental feed manufacturing capabilities and state-of-the-art recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) facilities. The company's DigitAQUA Test Bed provides a digital infrastructure layer combining real-time data collection, sensor validation, monitoring platforms, and predictive models for aquaculture production. Key products include the NO2Aqua (TRL 9) and NOxAqua (TRL 6) biosensing devices developed through the NOxAQua project for nitrogen monitoring in RAS. The service portfolio spans nutrition trials, functional challenge models, target species research, and RAS technology optimization, all underpinned by FELASA-certified facilities and personnel.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DigitAQUA Test Bed A test bed for digital and technological transition in aquaculture offering physical resources and human expertise for testing, demonstration, experimentation, and training. Provides real-time data collection, software/sensor validation, monitoring platforms, predictive models, and technical training for fish and shrimp farming.
• Nutrition Trials In vivo nutrition trials with fish and shrimp evaluating novel additives, raw materials, and complete feeds. Includes growth performance assessment (survival, weight gain, FCR, nutrient retention), digestibility studies using multiple methodologies (Guelph stripping, INRA decantation), palatability testing, and immunity/health evaluations.
• Functional Trials Challenge models and experimental designs to demonstrate bioactivity and benefits of test products. Includes intestinal explants, head-kidney leucocytes, nutritional challenges (high soy diets), physiological challenges (smoltification, vaccination), and environmental stress tests.
• RAS Technology Services Optimization services for recirculating aquaculture systems including biofilter optimization, water treatment, and animal welfare assessment. Provides conditions to test new products and services applied to RAS technology in semi-commercial scale.
• Research Facilities State-of-the-art experimental facilities with multiple rearing systems accommodating trials for freshwater and marine species. Includes RAS systems, open-flow systems, multiple tank sizes (50L to 1000L), and full compliance with animal welfare standards (FELASA-certified personnel).
• Experimental Feeds (Pilot Feed Mill) Custom-made R&D aquafeeds production service offering batches from 10 to 500 kg with pellet sizes from 0.5 to 22 mm. Capabilities include twin-screw extrusion, cold extrusion, fluid bed granulation, vacuum coating, microencapsulation, and formulation services.
• Target Species Research Experiments with major farmed species in marine (whiteleg shrimp, gilthead seabream, European seabass, Atlantic salmon, turbot, Senegalese sole, meagre) and freshwater (Nile tilapia, rainbow trout, common carp) environments.
• NO2Aqua Biosensor Portable nitrite biosensor for quantifying nitrite levels in recirculating aquaculture systems. Reached TRL 9 (market ready) by the end of the NOxAQua project (April 2024).
• NOxAqua Real-time Nitrogen Monitor Standalone device for real-time monitoring of three nitrogen nutrients (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate) in recirculating aquaculture systems. Reached TRL 6 by end of the NOxAQua project (April 2024).

Quantifiable outcome

• Estimated protein requirement for whiteleg shrimp PL: ~47% with optimal inclusion up to 54% for antioxidant status benefits
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and core.

• S2AQUAcoLABminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025S2AQUAcoLAB is a project partner in SKINS (COMPETE2030-FEDER-02247200), focused on salmonid aquaculture health and sustainability alongside Riasearch, SPAROS, and academic institutions.
• GreenCoLab (Green Ocean Association)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025GreenCoLab is a project partner in SKINS, contributing to salmonid aquaculture research alongside Riasearch, SPAROS, and academic partners (UTAD, ICBAS, CIIMAR, S2AQUAcoLAB).
• ICBAS (Abel Salazar Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025ICBAS is a project partner in SKINS, contributing biomedical and aquaculture science expertise to the salmonid skin health research project alongside Riasearch and academic partners.
• CIIMAR (Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2022CIIMAR is a beneficiary entity in the IGNITION project and involved in Aquacombine. IGNITION (project code 101084651) aims to unveil new knowledge on animal welfare in the context of climate change. CIIMAR leads the project and Riasearch contributes with €399,938.75 in eligible costs toward total project costs of €5,077,442.50.
• SPAROScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2022In June 2022, RIASEARCH and SPAROS merged their contract-research activities related to in vivo nutrition trials with fish and shrimp, as part of a long-standing partnership. RIASEARCH provides experimental facilities, aquatic research models, and trial execution; SPAROS provides feed formulation services and a pilot feed mill for custom-made R&D aquafeeds. The combined entity offers end-to-end contract-research services for the aquaculture nutrition and health market, covering trial design, experimental feed manufacturing, in-vivo trials, and analytics. Together they are described as a 'valuable partner for knowledge-based product development.'
• UTAD (University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2022UTAD is a beneficiary entity in the FICA project and involved in SKINS project. UTAD contributes expertise in aquaculture, fish nutrition, and veterinary sciences to Riasearch's collaborative research projects.
• University of AveiromajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2022University of Aveiro is a beneficiary entity in the FICA project and involved in Bluecomposite project. Coordinating entity of Bluecomposite (CENTRO-01-0145-FEDER-181223), which developed biocomposite materials for microbial modulation in RAS systems.
• Nitrogen Sensing Solutions (NS2)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2022Nitrogen Sensing Solutions (NS2) is the promoter and leader of the NOxAQua project (PT-INNOVATION-0101), developing innovative electrochemical biosensors to quantify nitrogen compounds (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate) in recirculating aquaculture systems. Riasearch validates the technology in operational aquaculture environments alongside FLATLANTIC, NIVA, and RASLab.
• NIVA (Norwegian Institute for Water Research)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2022NIVA is a Norwegian project partner in NOxAQua, validating nitrogen biosensor technology in operational environments. The partnership strengthens scientific and technological relationships between Portugal and Norway.
• FLATLANTIC (FLATLANTIC - Atividades Piscícolas, SA)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2022FLATLANTIC is a Portuguese aquaculture company and project partner in NOxAQua, validating nitrogen biosensor technology in operational fish farming conditions alongside Riasearch, NIVA, and RASLab.
• RASLab AS (Marinenolmen RASLab AS)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2022RASLab is a Norwegian aquaculture technology partner in NOxAQua, working with Riasearch to validate nitrogen sensing technology in RAS environments.
• CCMAR (Centre of Marine Sciences)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2020CCMAR is a beneficiary entity in the FICA project and involved in Aquacombine and SKINS projects. CCMAR provides scientific expertise in marine biology and aquaculture research, supporting Riasearch's trial work with advanced analytical capabilities.
• Aalborg UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2019Aalborg University (Denmark) is the leader institution of the Aquacombine project (Horizon 2020, Grant Agreement No 862834). Aquacombine demonstrates combined aquaculture and halophyte farming using circular economy principles. Riasearch's role is to provide Salicornia biomass and lead WP7 for development and testing of halophyte-based aquafeeds targeting European seabass and shrimp.
• INESC TEC (Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores, Tecnologia e Ciência)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2018INESC TEC participated in the FeedFirst project (ALG-01-0247-FEDER-034050) alongside Riasearch, Sparos, and ISEP. FeedFirst developed new technology for fish larvae rearing at first feeding, including microdiets, innovative tanks, and automated feeding control.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• NOFIMA: Norwegian applied research institute with major aquaculture R&D operations including nutrition trials, feed technology, and aquaculture production research. Comparable CRO-like offering but at much larger scale and primarily salmon-focused.
• Skretting (Nutreco): Global aquaculture feed incumbent with in-house research facilities. Overlaps with Riasearch as a potential client (and internal competitor) for aquaculture nutrition R&D. Significantly larger scale and broader species coverage.
• DSM-Firmenich (Animal Nutrition & Health): Global animal nutrition and health company with significant aquaculture additive and ingredient offerings. Represents both a comparable R&D-driven supplier and a target customer for Riasearch's feed additive efficacy trials.
• BioMar: Major global aquaculture feed producer with significant in-house R&D capabilities. Represents both a comparable service provider (internal) and a target customer segment for Riasearch's contract research offerings.
• Aller Aqua: European aquaculture feed manufacturer with its own R&D and trial capabilities. Comparable in being a mid-sized feed company engaged in species-specific nutrition research, though primarily a feed producer rather than a CRO.
• IFREMER: French public research institute with extensive aquaculture R&D capabilities including RAS facilities, nutrition studies, and species research. Significantly larger scale as a public institution but comparable research focus.
• Cargill Aqua Nutrition: Large-scale animal nutrition and aquaculture feed player with internal research infrastructure. Operates in the same customer segment as Riasearch but at vastly greater scale and with vertically integrated capabilities.

Direct peers

• Cawthron Institute: New Zealand-based independent aquaculture research institute offering contract research, analytical services, and trial capabilities across multiple species. Operates as a comparable independent CRO model in a different geography.
• SPAROS: Closest peer and strategic partner - Portuguese aquaculture nutrition CRO offering feed formulation, pilot feed manufacturing, and complementary trial services. Merged contract-research activities with Riasearch in 2022, making them part of an integrated offering rather than pure competitors.

Emerging players

• Aqua Pharma: Smaller aquaculture health and nutrition services company with overlapping capabilities in functional trials and feed additive assessment. Comparable in size and specialization though with narrower service scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/riasearch

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Riasearch