Project description
Engaging stakeholders to improve aquatic animal health
Farmed seafood is a significant source of protein for food with a low-emissions footprint. However, the efficient and cost-effective control of pathogens represents a critical challenge for the sector where there are diverse species and production systems. The EU-funded Cure4Aqua project will improve aquatic animal health and welfare and support environmentally friendly, inclusive, safe and healthy seafood production. Cure4Aqua will engage key stakeholders in developing cost-effective vaccines to prevent disease caused by five pathogens of economic significance to EU aquaculture. Cure4Aqua will identify markers with a diagnostic capacity to integrate into selective breeding programmes and develop innovative, bio-based alternatives to antibiotics solutions for controlling fish pathogens.
Objective
Farmed seafood is an important source of protein for food and feeds with a low-carbon footprint which has an important role to play in helping to build a sustainable food system. A strategic and long-term approach for the sustainable growth of a resilient EU aquaculture is, therefore, more relevant today than ever. However, the efficient and cost-effective control of pathogens remains among the main challenges for the sector, particularly relevant for Europe, where there is a great variety of species and production systems, which hinders the implementation of good husbandry practices tailored to each aquatic species. Through active engagement with key stakeholders, Cure4Aqua aims to jointly improve the resilience of EU aquaculture under environmental, biological, and socio-economic stress, by improving aquatic animal health and welfare and supporting the environmentally friendly, inclusive, safe, and healthy production of seafood. Cure4Aqua will do so by 1) developing cost-effective vaccines to prevent disease caused by 5 pathogens of economic significance to EU aquaculture; 2) Identifying markers with diagnostic capacity to be integrated to selective breeding programs to improve stress and disease management; 3) Developing innovative, bio-based and sustainable solutions as an alternative to antibiotics for controlling fish pathogens at various life stages and alleviate the pressure of global antimicrobial resistance; 4) Developing new tools and technology to improve health and welfare monitoring at the fish farm level and diagnostics of fish pathogens both at the laboratory and the fish farm levels; 5) Placing fish welfare at the foreground of aquaculture production, through the development of high welfare standards that consider different life-stages, production systems, and knowledge of welfare needs, and 6) Ensuring effective external communication, dissemination and exploitation of project activities and results to all relevant target groups.
Fields of science
- agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesfisheries
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteins
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacypharmaceutical drugsvaccines
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacypharmaceutical drugsantibiotics
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation ActionsCoordinator
370 05 Ceske Budejovice
Czechia
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Participants (21)
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D08H67X Dublin
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
19013 Attikia Anavissos
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2800 Kongens Lyngby
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1165 Kobenhavn
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33170 GRADIGNAN
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
74100 Rethimno
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15782 Santiago De Compostela
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21000 SPLIT
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2411-901 Leiria
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715 00 IRAKLEIO
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
8026 Bodo
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08193 Cerdanyola Del Valles
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30559 Hannover
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28006 Madrid
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332 00 GALAXIDI
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06560 Valbonne
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10556 ATHENS
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77-100 BYTOW
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1210 Wien
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10330 Bangkok
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Partners (9)
Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
8092 Zuerich
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Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
6928 Manno
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
8307 Effretikon
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
N/A Valparaiso
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Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
WA14 1ES Altrincham
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
EH26 0PZ Penicuik
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Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
AB24 3FX Aberdeen
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Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
SA2 8PP Swansea
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Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
SW7 2AZ LONDON
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