AquaVitae is a new four year H2020 project with the overall objective of increasing aquaculture production in and around the Atlantic Ocean in a sustainable way by developing new and emerging low trophic species and by optimising production in existing aquaculture value chains. AquaVitae will conduct research and facilitate innovation in five value chains (VCs) selected with regard to their potential for contributing to improved, sustainable food production and their lasting, significant impacts, specifically:
VC I: Macroalgal production; New species, offshore production, and post-harvest processes
VC II: Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA); land-based and sea-based, new species and systems
VC III: New echinoderm species: Sea urchins and sea cucumbers
VC IV: Existing shellfish species: Oysters and mussels
VC V: Optimised production of selected existing finfish species; freshwater and marine
A series of cross-cutting Work Packages (WPs) will include research on biosensors, Internet of Things (IoT), product characteristics, consumer attitudes, market potential, sustainability, environmental monitoring, risk assessment, analysis of value chains, profitability, and other socioeconomic aspects.
AquaVitae will contribute to various policy dialogues and produce briefs on policy and governance issues. The AquaVitae consortium consists of 36 full partners from Europe and countries bordering the Atlantic Ocean, in addition to an Industry Reference group, a Policy Advice Group, and an External Advisory Group. AquaVitae supports extensive communication
and outreach activities, employs a multi-actor approach to ensure stakeholder engagement in all phases of the project, and will set up a durable aquaculture industry and research network around the Atlantic Ocean. Industry partners are present in all case studies, and they have a special responsibility for exploitation and commercialization of the project research results and outcomes. AquaVitae will have a lasting impact on society through the introduction of new species, and through the development of new processes and products based on a circular economy / zero waste approach with improved sustainability. AquaVitae will produce Good Practice standards, facilitate industry apprenticeship and student exchange, support extensive training programs for industry, academia, and the public, and contribute to the
implementation of the EU-Brazil-South Africa Belém Statement.
This presentation will highlight examples from the Case Studies within the project and the impact they will have on their respective value chains in the Atlantic.