Shrimp are high-market value product with an increasing demand for global supply, currently representing 15 % of total globally traded fishery commodities and the second most traded commodity (both in value terms), following salmon. However, the shrimp farming industry is currently facing both production and environmental sustainability challenges. To tackle these challenges, SPAROS, a Portuguese SME devoted to the development of new products and processes for fish/shrimp feeding and nutrition, conducted a feasibility study to globally commercialize a disruptive weaning diet for shrimp larvae farmed in aquaculture. This feasibility study included an evaluation of market dimensions, including potential clients and competitors, as well as requirements and a roadmap to launch MYSIS in the global market, including an assessment of legal barriers and regulatory issues. Furthermore, this feasibility study comprised an evaluation of intellectual property rights protection over MYSIS, including a prior art study that comprised a freedom to operate and a freedom to patent analysis. The current feasibility plan estimated that MYSIS will have a major economic impact not only in SPAROS activities, but also in the prospective users of MYSIS. MYSIS will contribute to revolutionize the shrimp industry by significantly increasing shrimp larval growth rates and survival, leading to the production of high-quality juveniles. Shrimp hatcheries adopting the MYSIS microdiet can expect an average direct net gain of 22%. MYSIS will also contribute at societal level to a more sustainable shrimp farming industry. In conclusion, SPAROS positively evaluated the viability of the MYSIS project, deciding that a future application to the SME Instrument Phase 2 will be instrumental to move MYSIS in the innovation pathway, bringing the project to market.
