Ocean Reef Tower Oases: Feeding the World, Restoring the Oceans

Project Information

ORTO

Grant agreement ID: 827204

DOI

10.3030/827204

Project closed

EC signature date 20 July 2018

Start date 1 July 2018

End date 31 December 2018

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs

Total cost

€ 71 429,00

EU contribution

€ 50 000,00

Coordinated by

SEA HARMONY
Bulgaria

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ORTO (Ocean Reef Tower Oases: Feeding the World, Restoring the Oceans)

Reporting period: 2018-07-01 to 2018-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The increase in global population, changes in diet, and decreasing crop yield, are projected to result in a 70% ‘Calorie Gap’ by the year 2050.On the other hand the depleted ocean now produces only 10% of the world’s food.
The challenge is to overcome the stagnation of marine food production and restore large scale marine food production. Beyond overfishing and climate change factors, the most serious limitation to seafood production are the dead zones, issues arising from pollution, caused by the amount of fertilisers, up to 75%, that ends up, via rivers, in coastal areas. With normal self-regulating capacity overwhelmed, food chains break down, and the result are “dead zones” areas which cover 8,000,000 km2, (the size of Australia), and grow by 400,000 km2 (the size of the Black Sea) each year.
Our ORTO concept is based on the patented “Pisa Reef” artificial vertical mussel reef technology. Pisa Reefs quickly builds into sustainable food chains, reviving devastated ecosystems and providing a sustainable source of high quality sea food to face the 30 yr. stagnation in the mussel industry, resulting in 33% import dependency.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Our Feasibility study objectives have been structured in 3 areas:
• Technology – we have virtually tested the Pisa Reef serial model, validated the Harvester prototype concept and designed the Mobile Production Line
• Commercial – we have refined the market/commercial approach; and have identified trial partners and locations; and studied the relevant Regulation and Certification
• Financial – we have completed a plan for the financial framework of the company for the upcoming scale up; Risk management

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

"ORTO can make a profound contribution to EU Blue Growth strategy, and multiple Societal Challenges (Food Security and Climate Action in particular). For example, our interim goal is to reverse the 3 decades of market stagnation for mussels in the EU, and reduce imports.
ORTO is designed for rapid scaling around the globe, so that this low carbon food source can revolutionise global maritime food supply and significantly contribute to the long-term global food requirements. This contributes positively to EU/UN Sustainable Development Goals #2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, and 17.
ORTO can:
• Build maritime industry and communities
• Produce sustainable low-carbon food, by utilization of the open sea-shelf
• Grow ecosystems (coral reef effect)
• Heal eutrophication, revitalize dead zones"

Sea Harmony's Pisa Reef