Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SAFE (SmartAqua4FuturE - SAFE)
Reporting period: 2022-11-01 to 2024-04-30
The SAFE project aims to reduce the environmental impact and enhance the viability of freshwater aquaculture through a circular economy approach, with a focus on the valorisation of solid and liquid wastes from various aquaculture systems, improvement of water quality and fish welfare, and implementation of automated management systems. AI and machine learning techniques will reduce fish waste production, improve water quality and fish welfare, and utilize automated management system data. Fish welfare and disease prevention and treatment will be enhanced by energy-efficient technology and bioactive ingredients. Advancing management systems and integrating waste streams into aquaculture feed chain will improve economic viability. Solutions are under demonstrations across the EU, documenting necessary management and governance conditions. The project also compares EU aquaculture with Chinese and Chilean systems. Extensive dissemination activities, knowledge transfer programs, training, workshops, and collaboration with industry stakeholders support the development of professional skills in freshwater aquaculture within the EU and partner countries.
The SAFE project has achieved significant progress in various areas, aiming to reduce nutrient emissions from freshwater aquaculture by utilizing liquid and solid effluents in biomass production. To this end, different systems such as recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA), ponds, and flow-through systems were tested, considering seasonal variations in water quality, effluents, and sludge. Analyses of samples for macronutrients and trace elements, including pesticides, antibiotics, and particle sizes, revealed no concerns of harmful chemical compounds. The project explored several innovations in aquaculture, resulting in advancements in production system designs, waste management, aquafeed development, and digital innovations. One notable achievement is the creation of a low-cost, natural filtering system prototype using straw bricks for pond aquaculture. Enriched straw bricks were also tested as substrates for oyster mushroom cultivation. Additionally, a novel heat pump was developed to dry and utilize sludge effectively. Assessments were conducted to evaluate the impact of aquaculture on local biodiversity before and after applying SAFE technologies, including seasonal measurements of physiochemical parameters and macrobenthos sampling. In Ireland, the species diversity of benthic invertebrates was assessed, with diatom samples currently under analysis. In Poland, benthic diatom and macroinvertebrate samples from inflow and outflow channels were collected. Microalgae cultivation using processed wastewater from RAS was investigated to ensure water purity, with semi-continuous cultivation optimized for fish feed trials and lipid production. Aquaponics systems using liquid effluent from RAS were tested for growing edible vegetables and fruits, all of which showed positive growth trends while maintaining good water quality. For mushroom cultivation, two substrates were tested: straw bales enriched with sediments from common carp pond farming and insect frass from mealworms. Best yield results came from straw bales, leading to a commercial-scale trial. Initial trials on worms indicated that they consumed duckweed and sludge but did not mature and reproduce as expected, prompting further trials to investigate different ratios of them. An on-site redworm rearing workshop for carp farmers is planned at the National Carp Conference. Furthermore, mealworm trials tested three substrates: duckweed, watercress, and spent mushroom substrate (SMS), with results showing better growth with less watercress or duckweed. Future trials will use new substrates with varying percentages of straw and sediment to optimize mealworm growth. In summary, the SAFE project is making strides in reducing nutrient emissions, enhancing aquaculture systems, and promoting sustainable practices through innovative technologies and comprehensive assessments.
The SAFE project represents steps toward a more sustainable future for freshwater aquaculture. The preliminary results after 18 months demonstrate the potential of these approaches and provide a reel foundation for ongoing work. The project's success will benefit the aquaculture industry and contribute to broader sustainable development goals. The lessons learned from the SAFE project can be applied to other sectors, making it a valuable resource for sustainability and innovation, too. The exploitation of aquaculture waste sludge and water to produce circular aquafeed ingredients will aim to significantly reduce nutrient release into river systems and catchments, particularly mined elements such as phosphorus and zinc. The SAFE project will also validate that there is no significant transfer of toxic metals or pathogenic bacteria from sludge/waste effluent to the circular feed. Given the circular design of the aquafeed ingredient, its environmental impact will be measured by reduced emissions and resource consumption and nutrient recycling within the aquafeed production cycle. Data outputs will be published in peer-reviewed papers to validate results for fish farmers, feed manufacturers, and policymakers - significantly informing specific legislation such as undesirable feedstuffs (Directive 2002/32/EC). As prediction is essential for process optimization in aquaculture: A data-driven approach that is suitable for modelling fish growth and weight distribution in production units, requiring extensive data to train and validate machine learning models, is also in the scope. Here, the availability of grading process data is crucial for creating deployable models for production planning and management. The system that is in the works, represents a possible novel technology for fish farming in the EU, enabling optimized planning and management of production units, leading to more efficient production, reduced grading costs, improved animal welfare, and a lower ecological footprint, providing economic and environmental benefits.