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

Programme(s): HORIZON.2.6 - Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment

Topic(s): HORIZON-CL6-2024-ZEROPOLLUTION-01-1 - Demonstrating how regions can operate within safe ecological and regional nitrogen and phosphorus boundaries

Call for proposal: HORIZON-CL6-2024-ZEROPOLLUTION-01

Funding Scheme: HORIZON-IA - HORIZON Innovation Actions

Grant agreement ID: 101182028 

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.