AVCC-News

EUMOFA Talk -25 January 2024 – Digitalisation of the fisheries sector and full traceability of fishery and aquaculture products: achievements and remaining challenges

On 25 January 2024, from 11.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. (CET), The European Market Observatory for Fisheries and Aquaculture Products (EUMOFA) is holding an online talk on Zoom, with the theme Digitalisation of the fisheries sector and full traceability of fishery and aquaculture products: achievements and remaining challenges.

The webinar aims to:

• provide an overview of the main changes introduced from a regulatory perspective;
• explore some traceability solutions by presenting a success story of how digitalisation has already brought positive changes for some economic operators;
• examine the challenges and obstacles encountered by economic operators to ensure full traceability of the value chain of fishery and aquaculture products mainly for small enterprises in the sector.

In order to register, please access the following link:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAuf-ugrTwtE9Odi_tewnsDMySdrJSAl2ZT#/registration

Technical Screening Criteria for sustainable finfish aquaculture: input to the EU marketing standards, towards a sustainable food system and the EU taxonomy

The Federation of European Aquaculture Producers (FEAP) and the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) developed a simplified set of environmental and social sustainability standards for finfish aquaculture, aiming to improve the reception of the aquaculture sector in Europe, ensure it is better recognised at a political level and encourage investment.

16 Technical Screening Criteria and 35 indicators were developed for marine and freshwater finfish aquaculture. 

You can check out the report at the link below:

221208-feap-fishfarming-technical-screening-criteria.pdf

Good Practice: SPAROS R&D – FEEDNETICS™

SPAROS is a science & technology company located in Portugal, specialized in the development of new products and tailored nutritional solutions for the aquaculture market. The company was created in 2008.

One of Sparos’ products is FEEDNETICS™, a prediction tool that evaluates the effects of aquafeeds on fish production. FEEDNETICS™ can be used by fish farmers to optimize feeding, by aquafeed companies to provide tailored client support and by academics to leverage their research, by:

• comparing estimated FCR of different feeds or feeding regimes;
• comparing different feeds or feeding regimes, in order to estimate the most cost-effective;
• predicting the expected growth and body composition of a new feed under a farm´s annual temperature profile;
• predicting the waste (Solids, N and P) at a given site and comparing for different feeds or feeding regimes;
• assessing how different feeds perform in farm sites with different temperature profiles.

The target fish species are: Gilthead seabream, European seabass, Rainbow trout, Atlantic salmon, Nile tilapia.

Sustainable Intensification of Aquaculture Using Efficient Nanobubble Technology

In order to improve the efficiency of oxygen transfer from air or oxygen bubbles, commercial companies have developed nanobubble technology production systems. Tekile, Kim and Lee (2016) reported that air and pure oxygen nanobubbles can remain suspended in water for 10 days to 15 days respectively until dissolving and are therefore a more efficient method of increasing theDO content in water.

In addition, the collapse of nanobubbles results in chemically reactive free radicals(unpaired electrons) being produced, which oxidize organic compounds, and which may improve water quality in closed aquaculture production systems. 

Find out more about nanobubble technology in the following publication by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO): 
https://www.fao.org/3/cc0143en/cc0143en.pdf

“The EU Fish Market” 2023 Edition

The European Market Observatory for Fisheries and Aquaculture Products (EUMOFA) published the 2023 edition of the report “The EU fish market”, which aims to provide an economic description of the whole European fisheries and aquaculture industry.

The report is based on data available as of September 2023 and it provides answers to questions such as what is produced/exported/imported, when and where, what is consumed, by whom and what are the main trends. A comparative analysis allows to assess the performance of fishery and aquaculture products in the EU market compared with other food products. 

The publication is available at the following address: https://www.eumofa.eu/documents/20178/566349/EFM2023_EN.pdf/95612366-79d2-a4d1-218b-8089c8e7508c?t=1699541180521

AlgaEurope 2023

AlgaEurope 2023, organized by EABA – European Algae Biomass Association and DLG Benelux, will take place between 12-15 December in Prague, Czechia.

AlgaEurope is a global conference about science, technology and business in the Algae Biomass sector, allowing the participants to learn about algae production and commercialization and interact with key players from more than 45 countries.

Who should attend:

• Algae Technology Developers / Suppliers
• Algae producers & cultivation plant owners and operators
• Venture capitalists and financial investors for biotechnology
• Food industries
• Biofuels Network, Animal Feed Companies,
• Nutraceuticals/Pharmaceutical Companies, Fertilizer suppliers
• Water Treatment & Waste Water Professionals
• Technology providers for cultivation, harvesting, dewatering, drying, oil extraction, and processing

Deadline for registration: 8 December 2023

More information regarding the event and the registration link are available at the following address:

https://algaeurope.org/

Good Practice: Maricap (Tuscany, Italy) – Sustainable Mariculture

Cooperativa Maricoltura e Ricerca (Mariculture and Research Cooperative – Maricap) was founded in 1998 and is located in Capraia, a tiny island in Tuscany, Italy. Thanks to EMFF support and an unbeatable fighting spirit, new high-skilled and well-paid jobs were created in sustainable and organic marine aquaculture.

More information: https://oceans-and-fisheries.ec.europa.eu/news/sustainable-mariculture-how-eu-helped-build-successful-enterprise-smart-island-capraia-2021-02-26_en

Financing Opportunity: Impact of the development of novel foods based on alternative sources of proteins

Programme: Horizon Europe Framework Programme (HORIZON)

Call: Fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly food systems from primary production to consumption (HORIZON-CL6-2024-FARM2FORK-01)

Type of action: HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions

Deadline date: 22 February 2024 17:00:00 Brussels time

Legal entities from Greece, Romania, Türkiye and Ukraine, among other countries, are eligible applicants.

The maximum Horizon Europe funding rate for Research and innovation actions is 100%.

In line with the European Green Deal priorities, the farm to fork strategy for a fair, healthy and environment-friendly food system, and the EU’s climate ambition for 2030 and 2050, the successful proposal will support R&I to promote the production, provision and safe consumption of alternative sources of protein, and dietary shifts towards sustainable healthy nutrition, contributing to the transformation of food systems to deliver co-benefits for climate (mitigation and adaptation), biodiversity, environmental sustainability and circularity, sustainable healthy nutrition and safe food, food poverty reduction, empowerment of communities, and thriving businesses.

Novel foods are foods that have not been consumed to a significant extent in the EU before 15 May 1997.

Projects results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:

• Better and complete information provided about the impact this specific innovation, i.e. the development of novel food (e.g., insect protein, micro and macro algae-based products, microbial proteins, food/aquaculture by-products) would have especially for the food system in terms of sustainability (particularly economic and social aspects).
• Solutions that can help achieving the objectives of the European Green Deal, especially the farm to fork strategy, and Food 2030 priorities: nutrition for sustainable healthy diets, climate and environment, zero pollution, circularity and resource efficiency, innovation and empowering communities (e.g., meeting the needs, values and expectations of society in a responsible and ethical way).

Scope:

• Assess the potential of insect protein, micro and macro algae-based products, microbial proteins and/or food/aquaculture by-products in terms of market development taking into account the farm to fork strategy objectives based on up-to-date/new knowledge about them.
• Assess their economic impact (e.g., price, production cost, share of market, etc.) and assess the impact such development will have on other sectors, across the food and the bio-based systems.
• Assess their social impact (e.g., health aspects, consumer acceptance including considering gender and age aspects, cultural aspects).
• Assess their potential (as well as related risks and trade-offs) to address the most relevant European Green Deal objectives, including environmental ones, compared to conventional sources of proteins (e.g. meat and dairy), and the need to shift to sustainable and healthy diets.
• Implement the multi-actor approach by involving a wide range of food system actors and conducting inter-disciplinary research.
• International cooperation is strongly encouraged.
• Where relevant, activities should build and expand on the results of past and ongoing research projects (especially related to environmental aspects developed by the projects funded under HORIZON-CL6-2021-FARM2FORK-01-12 and HORIZON-CL6-2022-FARM2FORK-01-07, and projects funded under other relevant topics in this Work Programme). Projects should have a clear plan as to how they will collaborate with other projects selected under this topic (if funding of more than one project is possible) and any other relevant topic. They should participate in joint activities, workshops, focus groups or social labs, and common communication and dissemination activities, and show potential for upscaling. Applicants should plan the necessary budget to cover these activities.

More information available at:

https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/horizon-cl6-2024-farm2fork-01-7?keywords=aquaculture&tenders=false&forthcoming=false

Aquaculture improvement projects: driving change beyond the farm level

An aquaculture improvement project (AIP) is a way for a group of stakeholders to come together to tackle high priority sustainability issues by improving the management practices and policies of all farms operating within a specified area defined by the shared use of a waterbody. 

Find out more about AIP in the following publication by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO): https://www.fao.org/3/cb9113en/cb9113en.pdf

Financing Opportunity – Minimising climate impact on aquaculture: mitigation and adaptation solutions for future climate regimes

Programme: Horizon Europe Framework Programme (HORIZON)

Call: Fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly food systems from primary production to consumption (HORIZON-CL6-2024-FARM2FORK-02)

Type of action: HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions

Deadline dates: 22 February 2024 17:00:00 Brussels time
17 September 2024 17:00:00 Brussels time

Legal entities from Greece, Romania, Türkiye and Ukraine, among other countries, are eligible applicants.

The maximum Horizon Europe funding rate for Innovation action is 70% (except for non-profit legal entities, where a rate of up to 100% applies).

Selected proposals are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:

• Contribution to sustainable aquaculture systems (in marine and/or transitional, and/or fresh waters) for fair, safe, healthy, climate-resilient and environment-friendly food systems with low impact on aquatic ecosystems, supporting the European Green Deal and the farm to fork strategy, the “Strategic guidelines for a more sustainable and competitive EU aquaculture for the period 2021 to 2030”, and the “Action plan for the development of organic production”;
• Implementation of innovations, such as dietary shifts and aspects of circularity, for a more sustainable and competitive European aquaculture enhancing aquaculture resilience to adverse consequences of climate change;
• Positioning of European aquaculture production as the global reference for sustainability and quality, increase its competitiveness, reduce EU dependence on imports of fisheries and aquaculture products and create more jobs, especially in rural and coastal regions;
• Contribution to aquaculture production with a reduced environmental footprint, advancing towards climate-neutrality;
• Contribution to technologically-advanced aquaculture production (indicatively through the use of techniques such as artificial intelligence, sensors, internet-of-things and robotics), fully embedded in natural, social, ethical and economic sustainability.

Proposals are expected to:

• enhance knowledge of the impacts of climate change on aquaculture production at environmental, social and economic levels;
• identify, forecast and assess the main effects of climate change on different aquaculture production systems and on their ecological carrying capacity;
• consider impacts of climate change such as water availability (e.g., rise in evaporation, decrease in rainfall, extreme weather events like droughts or floods), water quality (e.g., acidification, eutrophication, pollution, contamination), temperature rise, sea level rise, spread of diseases (e.g. recrudescence of endemic and emerging diseases in traditional and recirculating aquaculture systems), reduced fish welfare, invasive species, and other climate related risks;
• investigate adaptation and mitigation solutions and opportunities such as technological, social, economic, and biological/ecological aspects, selection of suitable sites, culture methods (including the contribution of organic production and integrated multi-trophic aquaculture), species plasticity and adaptability to changing environments as well as breeding and selection techniques for a more sustainable, productive and resilient production;
• address aspects of circularity in terms of more efficient use of resources and less negative impacts on marine environment, including reduction, valorisation, and reuse of waste;
• build on the work of Horizon 2020 and EMFF projects, such as ClimeFish and CERES, and provide applicable approaches and tools to the aquaculture sector.

Proposed topics should contribute to one or more of the following impacts:

• enable sustainable farming systems that i) provide consumers with affordable, safe, healthy and sustainable food, ii) increase the provision of ecosystem services, iii) restore and strengthen biodiversity, iv) minimise pollution and pressure on ecosystems and greenhouse gas emissions, v) foster plant, animal and public health, vi) improve animal welfare, and vii) generate fair economic returns for farmers;
• enable sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, in marine and inland waters, increasing aquatic multi-trophic biomass production in a way compatible with the protection of aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity, and the diversification of fisheries and aquaculture products, for fair, healthy, climate-resilient and environment-friendly food systems with a lower impact on aquatic ecosystems and improved animal welfare;
• accelerate the transition to sustainable, healthy and inclusive food systems, delivering co-benefits for climate change mitigation and adaptation, environmental sustainability and circularity, sustainable healthy diets and nutrition, food poverty reduction, empowered citizens and communities, and flourishing food businesses, while ensuring food safety and the economic sustainability of EU food systems during the transition.

More information available at:

https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/horizon-cl6-2024-farm2fork-02-7-two-stage?keywords=aquaculture&tenders=false&forthcoming=false