Objective
Aquaculture is the fastest-growing food production sector globally, however, in the EU, the sector remains dominated by high-trophic finfish species creating environmental challenges such as nutrient waste, habitat disruption, and continued dependence on wild-caught fish for feed. To meet the ambitions of the European Green Deal, Farm to Fork Strategy, and the EU Strategic Guidelines for Sustainable Aquaculture (2021–2030), a transition towards more sustainable, diversified, and climate-resilient aquaculture is essential. AQUALICIOUS is an Innovation Action designed to demonstrate the potential of low-trophic aquaculture (LTA) and integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) solutions across Europe. The project will introduce omnivorous fish, shellfish, molluscs and algae species, promoting diversification and reducing environmental impacts. By developing circular value chains based on un-fed or low-trophic species, AQUALICIOUS will enable a shift towards resource-efficient production systems with minimal ecological footprint. The project will deliver innovative technologies and protocols, including advanced sensors for environmental monitoring, scalable IMTA designs, and digital tools for production optimization. These solutions will be tested and validated in three demonstration sites in Norway, Belgium, and Spain under real-world conditions (TRL >6). AQUALICIOUS will also integrate social sciences and humanities to assess regulatory, financial, and societal conditions for LTA scale-up, ensuring that technical innovations are embedded in a strong socio-economic context. Consumer engagement is central to the project. Through market research and willingness-to-pay (WTP) studies, AQUALICIOUS will provide evidence on consumer preferences, supporting effective labeling and marketing strategies. The consortium brings together 14 leading partners from academia, industry, and NGOs, ensuring robust innovation, validation, and knowledge transfer across the value chain.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- agricultural sciences agriculture, forestry, and fisheries fisheries
- social sciences political sciences political policies civil society civil society organisations nongovernmental organizations
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering sensors
- social sciences economics and business economics sustainable economy
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.2.6 - Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment
MAIN PROGRAMME
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HORIZON.2.6.4 - Seas, Oceans and Inland Waters
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-IA - HORIZON Innovation Actions
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-CL6-2025-02
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
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.
7052 TRONDHEIM
Norway
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.