The INNOECOFOOD project is developing innovative strategies for sustainable food production in Africa, creating local farms (ECOHUBs) focused on fish, microalgae, and insect value chains, including certified marketable food and feed products, as well as ingredients to other products based on the "farm to fork" approach. The environmental impacts of such a holistic approach, integrating the production of different supply chains in the form of an ECOHUB, will be assessed with Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology. The goal is to assess the environmental footprint of 1 kg of tilapia produced in the ECOHUB. The system will include fish production and processing, together with fish by-products further uses, as well as spirulina and insect-based products/ingredients of relevance to local communities and industries.
All fed aquaculture systems share environmental burdens from feed, but their resource use, emissions, and ecosystem pressures vary. Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) consist of fish tanks with filters and water treatment for aeration and disinfection. RAS recirculates treated water, converting ammonia into nitrate, which can be denitrified or gathered together with sludge. RAS offer solutions to overcome the main environmental issues by preventing the spread of nutrients, antimicrobials, and invasive species. Furthermore, closed farming systems offer more controlled rearing conditions that may contribute to a lower occurrence of diseases and a more efficient Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) than traditional open net-pen systems. The improved FCR is achieved through healthier fish and better control of feeding. However, RASs require more technical input and energy to facilitate water aeration and purification in order to create suitable conditions for the fish to live and grow than in open farming systems.
Tilapia is a highly productive freshwater fish species, that requires low protein inputs and warm water (around 30°C), potentially lowering the environmental footprint. While previous LCA studies highlighted high GHG emissions in RAS due to energy needs, RAS for tilapia and catfish showed lower energy use in Europe, with no oxygenation needed. The multitrophic approach of the ECOHUB, including the whole supply chain with a combination of different species, is a RAS system that goes beyond the aquatic farming system and may improve efficiency in resources use in the agro-food system. Therefore, since LCA is crucial for assessing the environmental impact of tilapia production, the aim of this work is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the entire chain (from raw materials to waste management) in order to help optimize processes and reduce environmental burdens, promoting sustainable aquaculture practices.
Acknowledgments: This work was supported by project INNOECOFOOD with funding from the EU Horizon Innovation action (GA no. 101136739) and by Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (UIDB/04077/2020, UIDB/ 04423/2020 and UIDP/04423/2020). Funded by the EU. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the EU. Neither the EU nor the UKRI can be held responsible for them.