Co-locating low‑trophic aquaculture (LTA) with offshore wind farms (OWFs) can unlock new economic opportunities and make better use of marine space, yet uptake is often constrained by fragmented permitting, demanding offshore operations and the need for credible environmental evidence. ULTFARMS (2023–2026) is a 42‑month Horizon Europe project led by Deltares, bringing together 25 partners from nine countries and six pilots in the North Sea and Baltic Sea. The project integrates engineering, technical, and ecological innovations for seaweed, mussel and oyster systems, while also exploring links with nature‑inclusive design and restoration activities.
Building on project outputs and insights, ULTFARMS develops an actionable roadmap to translate this experience into clear guidance for policymakers, industry and research, lowering barriers and supporting short‑term replicability of offshore LTA in OWFs. The roadmap is organised as a main roadmap comprising standalone thematic shorter roadmaps, each designed to be read independently and to provide practical steps and keys to success. It addresses licensing, operations and maintenance, finance and funding, monitoring and indicators, upscaling and commercialisation, and advancing eco‑friendly productivity, and it concludes with lessons learned and a way forward.
The ULTFARMS roadmap also draws on key outputs from the sister project OLAMUR to strengthen the evidence base and practical guidance for upscaling offshore LTA in OWFs.