Introduction
In the framework of the European Green Deal, the EU commission has published its Aquaculture strategic guidelines. In these guidelines, the circular approaches, waste valorisation and recirculating aquaculture production are key elements to increase the needed EU aquaculture production.
Within the Horizon 2020 framework, the Commission financed three major research projects looking into novel approaches of aquaculture farming and circular economy in aquaculture (Gain, IMPAQT and iFishIENCi). These projects bring essential new impulses to the discussion on waste valorisation and circular concepts in aquaculture. However, the majority of presented circular solution take the approach from the perspective of the additional value creation, rather than from the need of the fish farmer. This presentation want’s to bring back the focus of the discussion to the needs of the industry.
The Farmers Perspective
However, compared to the scientific approach to the topic, a fish farmer has a far more practical approach to waste management, waste valorisation and circularity.
At the moment all waste handling in aquaculture is a necessity due to legal/public requirements. Waste management is part of the production license of each aquaculture facility but the rules for waste management differ tremendously from country to country within the EU, from region to region within one country and even from site to site within one region.
For the fish farmer, waste management, in most cases, does not produce more fish, or makes the product more appreciated. Waste management only adds costs, in a very competitive business environment.
Thus, any new approach to waste valorisation to be accepted by the industry, it needs to have some key features:
Potential solutions
In order to achieve the positive acceptance by the industry, solutions to waste valorisation need to have the following features:
In conclusion new potential valorisation technologies need to go far beyond the actual applied industry standard of sludge thickening and subsequent biogas production or land application as fertilizer.