Periodic Reporting for period 1 - C-FAARER (Community-driven Farming for the Atlantic and Arctic sea basins through REgeneRative aquaculture)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2023-06-01 al 2025-05-31
Europe faces considerable challenges to achieve the objectives of the EU Mission ‘Restore Our Ocean and Waters by 2030’. C-FAARER contributed to the Mission by responding to the pressing issue of unsustainable ocean farming practices, which are largely commercially-driven and often environmentally damaging in the long-term. European nations are seeking to exploit the potential of the ocean to meet economic goals and feed growing populations, however, the natural environment is struggling to withstand these mounting pressures.
The project worked closely with ocean farmers in Norway and Ireland, and delivered feasibility studies as well as real-world cases examining technical, operational, economic, environmental and societal factors underpinning regenerative ocean farming. The project’s major achievements included receiving the 2024 Atlantic Project Award for Healthy Oceans and Resilient Coasts, the April 2025 launch of the spin-out, the Irish Seaweed Association (ISA) and the continuation of C-FAARER’s work through the successful EMFAF funded SEAGROW proposal.
C-FAARER also delivered a focused roadmap report, with 10 recommendations over the next 10 years to help generate momentum towards regenerative, nature-positive outcomes for European ocean farming. The roadmap seeks to secure industry commitment to the concept community-driven regenerative ocean farming across diverse stakeholders, including ocean farmers and entrepreneurs, policy-makers, spatial planners, marine biologists, the financial sector and others.
The project worked closely with ocean farmers in Norway and Ireland, and delivered feasibility studies as well as real-world cases examining technical, operational, economic, environmental and societal factors underpinning regenerative ocean farming. The project’s major achievements included receiving the 2024 Atlantic Project Award for Healthy Oceans and Resilient Coasts, the April 2025 launch of the spin-out, the Irish Seaweed Association (ISA) and the continuation of C-FAARER’s work through the successful EMFAF funded SEAGROW proposal.
C-FAARER also delivered a focused roadmap report, with 10 recommendations over the next 10 years to help generate momentum towards regenerative, nature-positive outcomes for European ocean farming. The roadmap seeks to secure industry commitment to the concept community-driven regenerative ocean farming across diverse stakeholders, including ocean farmers and entrepreneurs, policy-makers, spatial planners, marine biologists, the financial sector and others.
Deliverable 1.1 provides a discussion paper, illustrating initial findings from a review of relevant literature and expert materials, as well as emerging pioneering ocean farmer practices. This includes shaping a definition, principles and scope. It also provides a high-level conceptual framework, mapping ecological, environmental and socio-economic criteria to the aquaculture value chain. Deliverable 1.2 provides further details about the profile of exemplar businesses and a self-assessment tool for ocean farmers to chart their journey towards regenerative ocean farming practices.
Deliverable 2.1 provides an in-depth feasibility analysis, based on a review of literature and industry reports, as well as primary data gathered from seaweed farmers in Norway and Ireland. It provides key messages from assessments of farming, business, and environment.
Deliverables 1.1 and 1.2 illustrate the potential community-driven business models, however, as discussed in Deliverable 2.1 there are considerable challenges associated with the survival of ocean farming businesses in Norway, affecting the implementation of such approaches. Deliverables 2.2 3.1 4.1 presented case studies, and explored various interpretations of early-stage community-driven approaches.
As part of Deliverable 5.2 recommendations are provided for ‘innovation business models’, ‘finance and investment, ‘innovations in processing and infrastructure’, ‘market access’, and ‘collaboration’. All of these areas contain parts of an emerging framework for multi-stakeholder engagement that supports community-driven partnerships at various levels and across the aquaculture value chain. Replicating the NSA, we have put in place the foundations for the Irish twin (ISA) to build capacity and advocate for a transition towards regenerative.
Deliverable 5.2 provides a roadmap for the deployment phase of the Ocean Mission, to advance regenerative ocean farming across the Atlantic and Arctic Sea basin. This roadmap can also offer a template for other European Sea basins, with much of our recommendations recognising common challenges and providing transferrable solutions. Our feasibility and innovation assessments (D2.1 4.2) and case studies (D2.2 3.1 4.1) also provide insights for wider learning and replication.
Deliverable 2.1 provides an in-depth feasibility analysis, based on a review of literature and industry reports, as well as primary data gathered from seaweed farmers in Norway and Ireland. It provides key messages from assessments of farming, business, and environment.
Deliverables 1.1 and 1.2 illustrate the potential community-driven business models, however, as discussed in Deliverable 2.1 there are considerable challenges associated with the survival of ocean farming businesses in Norway, affecting the implementation of such approaches. Deliverables 2.2 3.1 4.1 presented case studies, and explored various interpretations of early-stage community-driven approaches.
As part of Deliverable 5.2 recommendations are provided for ‘innovation business models’, ‘finance and investment, ‘innovations in processing and infrastructure’, ‘market access’, and ‘collaboration’. All of these areas contain parts of an emerging framework for multi-stakeholder engagement that supports community-driven partnerships at various levels and across the aquaculture value chain. Replicating the NSA, we have put in place the foundations for the Irish twin (ISA) to build capacity and advocate for a transition towards regenerative.
Deliverable 5.2 provides a roadmap for the deployment phase of the Ocean Mission, to advance regenerative ocean farming across the Atlantic and Arctic Sea basin. This roadmap can also offer a template for other European Sea basins, with much of our recommendations recognising common challenges and providing transferrable solutions. Our feasibility and innovation assessments (D2.1 4.2) and case studies (D2.2 3.1 4.1) also provide insights for wider learning and replication.
WP1
- Definitions and conceptual framework presented at events, webinars and published in the media
- Influenced development of Cool Blue’s Scandinavian manifesto for regenerative ocean farming
- Developed a self-assessment tool for farmers to assess their progress (current and future), but can also be used by external consultants
- Designed-in regenerative, within the Terms of Reference of our Irish Seaweed Association (ISA) spin-out from the project – and designed-out unsustainable practices
WP2
- Demonstrated the technical feasibility and opportunities for innovation based in relation to farming, business and the environment.
- Provided further knowledge on site-specific requirements that are context-dependent (D2.1) and alignment with regenerative ocean farming principles based on in-depth case studies with seaweed farms
- Identified key challenges in business and regulatory domains in the feasibility assessments, which included relevant directives and political initiatives (D2.1).
WP3
- Assessed feasibility among different stakeholders of integrating community business models into practice –identified challenges to be overcome.
- Identified the importance of networking and establishing collaborations along the value chain.
- Regenerative Ocean Farming Community established on Connecting Nature Enterprise Platform
- International collaborations between Seaweed Associations established – ISA, NSA and SSIA.
WP4
- Participated in NSA working groups where applications are discussed between industry/academia
- Given insight from seaweed production by interviewing seaweed farmers (10 from Norway and 1 from Denmark)
- Explored and identified new processing technologies, and challenges related to these, for more sustainable seaweed processing (D4.1 D4.2)
- Explored and documented various technological solutions for processing of algae. The solutions explored were impacted by the NSA interest (D4.2).
WP5
- Self-Assessment Tool, Practice Guidebook, event content, farmer video, white paper, deliverables and partner materials distributed via website and social media
- Three CNEP communities launched with 65 members in total, which continue to be operational post-project with no end-date
- Secured ongoing role for a C-FAARER partner on the new Irish Seaweed Association Board
- Established the Irish Seaweed Association (ISA), supporting communication channels, branding, and stakeholder materials
- 15 press articles on ISA launch with 20.9+ million media reach (via major media outlets - RTE, TG4, etc.)
- Definitions and conceptual framework presented at events, webinars and published in the media
- Influenced development of Cool Blue’s Scandinavian manifesto for regenerative ocean farming
- Developed a self-assessment tool for farmers to assess their progress (current and future), but can also be used by external consultants
- Designed-in regenerative, within the Terms of Reference of our Irish Seaweed Association (ISA) spin-out from the project – and designed-out unsustainable practices
WP2
- Demonstrated the technical feasibility and opportunities for innovation based in relation to farming, business and the environment.
- Provided further knowledge on site-specific requirements that are context-dependent (D2.1) and alignment with regenerative ocean farming principles based on in-depth case studies with seaweed farms
- Identified key challenges in business and regulatory domains in the feasibility assessments, which included relevant directives and political initiatives (D2.1).
WP3
- Assessed feasibility among different stakeholders of integrating community business models into practice –identified challenges to be overcome.
- Identified the importance of networking and establishing collaborations along the value chain.
- Regenerative Ocean Farming Community established on Connecting Nature Enterprise Platform
- International collaborations between Seaweed Associations established – ISA, NSA and SSIA.
WP4
- Participated in NSA working groups where applications are discussed between industry/academia
- Given insight from seaweed production by interviewing seaweed farmers (10 from Norway and 1 from Denmark)
- Explored and identified new processing technologies, and challenges related to these, for more sustainable seaweed processing (D4.1 D4.2)
- Explored and documented various technological solutions for processing of algae. The solutions explored were impacted by the NSA interest (D4.2).
WP5
- Self-Assessment Tool, Practice Guidebook, event content, farmer video, white paper, deliverables and partner materials distributed via website and social media
- Three CNEP communities launched with 65 members in total, which continue to be operational post-project with no end-date
- Secured ongoing role for a C-FAARER partner on the new Irish Seaweed Association Board
- Established the Irish Seaweed Association (ISA), supporting communication channels, branding, and stakeholder materials
- 15 press articles on ISA launch with 20.9+ million media reach (via major media outlets - RTE, TG4, etc.)