Periodic Reporting for period 3 - MedAID (Mediterranean Aquaculture Integrated Development)
Reporting period: 2020-05-01 to 2021-10-31
Aquaculture was the fastest growing food producing industry in the last decades, fostered by increasing fish consumption; but Mediterranean marine fish aquaculture has stagnated due to many factors resulting in limited competitiveness: suboptimal technical performance, insufficient market strategies, low social acceptance, very competitive economic environment and complex administrative and policy frameworks.
MedAID (Mediterranean Aquaculture Integrated Development) is a multidisciplinary research project implemented by 34 partners from 13 EU and non-EU countries. It pursues two objectives, focusing on seabream and seabass aquaculture: (i) to provide knowledge and tools to improve the performance and sustainability of the production and to develop added value products and business plans; and (ii) to develop approaches and recommendations to help integration, harmonization and governance of the sector.
MedAID (Mediterranean Aquaculture Integrated Development) is a multidisciplinary research project implemented by 34 partners from 13 EU and non-EU countries. It pursues two objectives, focusing on seabream and seabass aquaculture: (i) to provide knowledge and tools to improve the performance and sustainability of the production and to develop added value products and business plans; and (ii) to develop approaches and recommendations to help integration, harmonization and governance of the sector.
The MedAID assessment of Mediterranean aquaculture sustainability covered technical, economic, environmental, social and governance components, and identifyed main KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) and enterprise typologies. Further integrative analysis led to develop the MedAID farm benchmarking tool.
MedAID run 15 experiments, including a two-site on-farm trial, in 6 countries, focusing on current knowledge gaps in rearing conditions, feeding strategies, management practices, welfare and interlinks with genetics. The applicability and economic profitability of the approaches was also assessed.
Α 60K SNP genotyping array (MedFish) was designed for seabass and seabream as a collaboration between MedAID and PerformFish projects and industrial partners. 10,000 fish were genotyped to study fat deposition and quality traits and identify potential markers for selection, and to examine the genetic diversity and relatedness of populations of both species, showing differentiation between wild and farmed populations. Genetic x Environment interaction effect was confirmed using the array in two Mediterranean locations.
A survey assessed farm biosecurity and pathogens in 8 countries to develop a farm risk scoring system. An analysis on Nodavirus introduction and spread identified hazard points, as introducing live fish in farms. MedAID analysed Mediterranean laboratories diagnostic capacities with two ring tests on Nodavirus diagnosis and a lab mapping. It organized the Mediterranean fish health forum and published a Manual on diagnostics of seabass and seabream diseases. A prototype vaccine against VNN virus (with innovative VLP bio-technology) was characterized, and lab challenges showed it is safe and effective. A list of welfare indicators for seabream was produced.
Consumer segments, their needs and potential for accepting new fish products, were identified in France, Germany and Spain. Adapted fish-product ideas were selected through a screening process with stakeholders, applying co-creation techniques and textual analysis. Eight product prototypes from seabass, seabream and meagre were developed at pilot scale. Four were elaborated in short production runs and validated with consumers. The optimal product and packaging configuration attributes were derived from consumers choice experiments. The products technical and economic feasibility was evaluated.
The economics of production studies investigated the technical efficiency and scale effects of Mediterranean aquaculture companies, indicating that there is still room for improving, and ranking the impact of selected KPIs on farms economic results. The AquiAID tool was developed with artificial intelligence to support farms’ decision-making. The market dynamics and price analysis described market drivers (including mass media coverage), showing price volatility, price sensitivity of demand, and supply being affected by production costs. The retailer/consumer study confirmed 3 preferred attributes: size, level of processing and country of origin. A forecast analysis of the impact of Covid-19 in the sector was done.
MedAID developed Guidelines in support of social acceptability (SA) for aquaculture development with Mediterranean stakeholders. A methodological framework to improve SA was proposed and tested in 3 local case studies (in Greece, Spain and Tunisia) showing how SA was addressed, identifying SA factors, and exploring potential responses from companies and acceptable scenarios of aquaculture development.
MedAID synthesized its main outputs in a benchmarking software and in 48 recommendations on technical aspects, business plans, better governance and social acceptance.
MedAID partners participated in 112 external meetings and published 81 articles, reports and conference abstracts. The project organized stakeholder consultation and dissemination activities (more than 20 local, national and international events), as well as 5 training courses for professionals.
MedAID run 15 experiments, including a two-site on-farm trial, in 6 countries, focusing on current knowledge gaps in rearing conditions, feeding strategies, management practices, welfare and interlinks with genetics. The applicability and economic profitability of the approaches was also assessed.
Α 60K SNP genotyping array (MedFish) was designed for seabass and seabream as a collaboration between MedAID and PerformFish projects and industrial partners. 10,000 fish were genotyped to study fat deposition and quality traits and identify potential markers for selection, and to examine the genetic diversity and relatedness of populations of both species, showing differentiation between wild and farmed populations. Genetic x Environment interaction effect was confirmed using the array in two Mediterranean locations.
A survey assessed farm biosecurity and pathogens in 8 countries to develop a farm risk scoring system. An analysis on Nodavirus introduction and spread identified hazard points, as introducing live fish in farms. MedAID analysed Mediterranean laboratories diagnostic capacities with two ring tests on Nodavirus diagnosis and a lab mapping. It organized the Mediterranean fish health forum and published a Manual on diagnostics of seabass and seabream diseases. A prototype vaccine against VNN virus (with innovative VLP bio-technology) was characterized, and lab challenges showed it is safe and effective. A list of welfare indicators for seabream was produced.
Consumer segments, their needs and potential for accepting new fish products, were identified in France, Germany and Spain. Adapted fish-product ideas were selected through a screening process with stakeholders, applying co-creation techniques and textual analysis. Eight product prototypes from seabass, seabream and meagre were developed at pilot scale. Four were elaborated in short production runs and validated with consumers. The optimal product and packaging configuration attributes were derived from consumers choice experiments. The products technical and economic feasibility was evaluated.
The economics of production studies investigated the technical efficiency and scale effects of Mediterranean aquaculture companies, indicating that there is still room for improving, and ranking the impact of selected KPIs on farms economic results. The AquiAID tool was developed with artificial intelligence to support farms’ decision-making. The market dynamics and price analysis described market drivers (including mass media coverage), showing price volatility, price sensitivity of demand, and supply being affected by production costs. The retailer/consumer study confirmed 3 preferred attributes: size, level of processing and country of origin. A forecast analysis of the impact of Covid-19 in the sector was done.
MedAID developed Guidelines in support of social acceptability (SA) for aquaculture development with Mediterranean stakeholders. A methodological framework to improve SA was proposed and tested in 3 local case studies (in Greece, Spain and Tunisia) showing how SA was addressed, identifying SA factors, and exploring potential responses from companies and acceptable scenarios of aquaculture development.
MedAID synthesized its main outputs in a benchmarking software and in 48 recommendations on technical aspects, business plans, better governance and social acceptance.
MedAID partners participated in 112 external meetings and published 81 articles, reports and conference abstracts. The project organized stakeholder consultation and dissemination activities (more than 20 local, national and international events), as well as 5 training courses for professionals.
The KPIs to monitor industry competitiveness and the Mediterranean farm typologies are the basis to perform comparative analysis with the MedAID farm benchmarking tool, open for seabass and seabream farmers.
The research on rearing and feeding practices gave recommendations to improve feeding, fish robustness and welfare, applicable to: (1) better management of aquafeeds during seasonal changes and stressful events; (2) suitability of juvenile exercise to improve growth at sea phase; (3) the effect of larval growth temperature on development and sex differentiation; and (4) the use of low fishmeal / fish oil diets and/or functional feeds (additives).
The MedFish SNP array fills a large technology gap to enable genomic selection, gene mapping and characterization for key economic traits, decision-making for managing population genetic variation and design of breeding programmes based on information about GxE.
MedAID made recommendations on farm biosecurity programmes. The evaluation, networking and training with health labs and professionals, and the Manual on diagnostics reinforce their capacities. The work on the VLP based VNN Nodavirus vaccine is a step forward to developing an effective vaccine, crucial to control this disease; further research needs to be conducted in commercial conditions to characterize it and set up immunization protocols. Welfare indicators have potential as a basis for fish welfare certification schemes.
The food fish prototypes adapted to food market segments are ready for industrial upscaling. The consumer studies and the process of food innovation can guide smart business strategies for Mediterranean aquaculture.
Economic studies can improve aquaculture businesses economic/technical efficiency. The analysis of market dynamics and prices, the influence of the media, and consumer preferences for product attributes will help industry to make decisions under competitive market conditions.
The Guidelines in support of the Social Acceptability of aquaculture and the methodological framework to address SA may help to orientate the Blue Economy Strategy and the private and public policy actions (e.g. corporate responsibility, new aquaculture developments) to create better conditions enhancing the SA of aquaculture.
MedAID guidelines and recommendations and the software tools can contribute to Mediterranean aquaculture sustainability. Such outputs and other project resources as scientific articles, deliverable reports, or e-learning modules are available in the MedAID Tool Box (medaid-toolbox.eu/).
The research on rearing and feeding practices gave recommendations to improve feeding, fish robustness and welfare, applicable to: (1) better management of aquafeeds during seasonal changes and stressful events; (2) suitability of juvenile exercise to improve growth at sea phase; (3) the effect of larval growth temperature on development and sex differentiation; and (4) the use of low fishmeal / fish oil diets and/or functional feeds (additives).
The MedFish SNP array fills a large technology gap to enable genomic selection, gene mapping and characterization for key economic traits, decision-making for managing population genetic variation and design of breeding programmes based on information about GxE.
MedAID made recommendations on farm biosecurity programmes. The evaluation, networking and training with health labs and professionals, and the Manual on diagnostics reinforce their capacities. The work on the VLP based VNN Nodavirus vaccine is a step forward to developing an effective vaccine, crucial to control this disease; further research needs to be conducted in commercial conditions to characterize it and set up immunization protocols. Welfare indicators have potential as a basis for fish welfare certification schemes.
The food fish prototypes adapted to food market segments are ready for industrial upscaling. The consumer studies and the process of food innovation can guide smart business strategies for Mediterranean aquaculture.
Economic studies can improve aquaculture businesses economic/technical efficiency. The analysis of market dynamics and prices, the influence of the media, and consumer preferences for product attributes will help industry to make decisions under competitive market conditions.
The Guidelines in support of the Social Acceptability of aquaculture and the methodological framework to address SA may help to orientate the Blue Economy Strategy and the private and public policy actions (e.g. corporate responsibility, new aquaculture developments) to create better conditions enhancing the SA of aquaculture.
MedAID guidelines and recommendations and the software tools can contribute to Mediterranean aquaculture sustainability. Such outputs and other project resources as scientific articles, deliverable reports, or e-learning modules are available in the MedAID Tool Box (medaid-toolbox.eu/).