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Innovative solutions to reduce AQUAculture emissions and valorize sludge through PHOsphorus and NItrogen eXtraction

Project description

Reducing N+P emissions while valorising sludge unleashes the potential of aquaculture

Aquaculture is the fastest-growing food industry in the world, addressing food security while limiting some environmental consequences of conventional agriculture and livestock farming. However, it faces challenges including nitrogen and phosphorus (N+P) emissions, sizeable waste streams and unsustainable feed sources. The EU-funded AQUAPHOENIX project aims to address these with a new ‘SludgeCollect’ system that reduces N+P emissions while valorising sludge into renewable energy, sustainable fertilisers and food/feed ingredients. The system will be demonstrated at seven aquaculture sites in Norway and Finland. Supported by political will and key aquaculture networks, the project aims to lead global change, ensuring healthy seas and advancing Europe’s zero pollution by 2050 agenda.

Objective

Aquaculture faces a dilemma. Population growth, food resource constraints and increasing recognition of environmental challenges related to food production position aquaculture as a key component of a healthy diet and sustainable food source. As a result, aquaculture is the fastest growing food industry in the world - a trend that is expected to continue for years to come. However, its growth presents a series of environmental challenges including Nitrogen and Phosphorus (N+P) emissions from sludge (and consequential eutrophication of our water bodies), significant waste streams, and unsustainable feed sources. Each of these challenges are exacerbated by the fact that countries such as Norway, which produces more aquaculture products than the EU combined, aims to grow its sector by five times in the next 25 years. Important regulation that govern N+P emissions therefore limit production growth.

This dilemma presents a fantastic opportunity for AQUAPHOENIX. We will demonstrate a novel SludgeCollect infrastructure in seven regional DEMO sites in Norway and Finland, which are incorporated into existing open pen aquaculture farms. Validation of SludgeCollect, together with significant political will backing our project, will pave the way for our ability to simultaneously increase aquaculture production while reducing N+P emissions to promote healthy seas. What's more, we will test and develop a variety of valorisation pathways that will commodify sludge as a circular resource for producing renewable energy, sustainable agriculture fertiliser, and novel food and feed ingredients. The AQUAPHOENIX consortium recognises its ability to respond to this opportunity and is partnering with leading aquaculture associations and networks to act as a global forerunner to lead change on a large scale. We are committed to advancing reductions in aquaculture’s N+P emissions and support the green transition towards a Zero Pollution Europe.

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HORIZON-IA - HORIZON Innovation Actions

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) HORIZON-CL6-2024-ZEROPOLLUTION-01

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Coordinator

NORCE RESEARCH AS
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 1 395 896,25
Address
NYGARDSGATEN 112
5838 BERGEN
Norway

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Region
Norge Vestlandet Vestland
Activity type
Research Organisations
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 1 395 896,25

Participants (16)

Partners (2)

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