AquaVitae is a four and half year H2020 EU funded project which started in 2019. It has 35 partners from all around the Atlantic, focusing on Europe, Brazil and South Africa. The project has two main aims. The first is to increase the production from low trophic value chains across the Atlantic. The second is to contribute to the All Atlantic Ocean Community, particularly in regards to the sustainable production of food from the Atlantic.
The project focusses on 5 value chains selected for their potential for sustainable production and their significant impacts, specifically:
· Macroalgae production; New species, offshore production, and post-harvest processes
· Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA); land-based and sea-based, biofloc systems
· New echinoderm species: Sea urchins and sea cucumbers
· Existing shellfish species: Oysters and mussels
· Optimised production of selected existing finfish species; freshwater and marine
These value chains are implemented through 13 case studies (including two cross cutting case studies) where practical, hands-on innovation and exploitation work has been carried out by industry and research participants. In addition, a significant part of the research activities in AquaVitae have focussed on cross-cutting issues applicable to many of the CSs. This includes research on: biosensors, Internet of Things and data management, product characteristics, consumer attitudes and market potential, sustainability, circular economy, environmental monitoring and risk assessment, and value chain analysis, profitability and socio-economic aspects. Issues related to policy and governance are essential and AquaVitae has contributed to various policy dialogues and produced EU policy briefs.
Knowledge, network-building, training, and communication is crucial when it comes to ensuring project impact both inside and outside the consortium. In AquaVitae this includes the development of relevant stakeholder platforms, exchange programs as well as a Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) in low trophic aquaculture . The knowledge and Capacity Building activities will be the focus of this presentation together with their impact on Europe and the wide Atlantic Ocean Community.