AWARE IN A NUTSHELL – AQUAPONICS FROM WASTEWATER RECLAMATION

Aquaculture plays a critical role in meeting global food demand and addressing sustainability challenges. In Europe, demand for freshwater fish is rising due to stagnating marine catches, creating opportunities for growth in freshwater aquaculture. However, the sector has seen limited development in recent years due to a lack of innovation, low product diversity, seasonality, and stringent environmental regulations. Additionally, production depends on the availability of natural water resources and habitats, which are increasingly strained by water scarcity and climate change. To advance European freshwater aquaculture, there is a need to:

1. Increase the adoption of innovative, sustainable production methods in urban and peri-urban areas, closer to consumers where land and water are limited;
2. Foster policy and regulatory support for freshwater aquaculture farmers;
3. Build resilience against climate change and water stress.

We propose that these needs can be addressed through local fish farming using reclaimed water. While this approach has been implemented in water-scarce regions globally, Europe lacks the regulatory and policy frameworks to support it, and compelling evidence on the safety, quality, economic viability, and public acceptance of reclaimed water aquaculture is still limited.

With the AWARE project, we aim to break down these barriers and make reclaimed water aquaculture a reality in Europe. Our project will demonstrate a fully integrated aquaponic recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) enhanced with IoT monitoring, blockchain, data security, and automation technologies. Aquaponics, a multitrophic system that grows fish and plants together, requires no soil, recycles water from fish production to support plant growth, and offers substantial sustainability benefits. Both RAS and multitrophic aquaponics have been prioritized for research and innovation by the Strategic Working Group on Fisheries and Aquaculture (SCAR-Fish) of the Standing Committee on Agricultural Research.

Our project will establish the first European case study of reclaimed water aquaponics in Castellana Grotte (Puglia, Italy), building on results from a previous H2020 project on wastewater treatment. Through this pilot, we will:

• Demonstrate effective and sustainable aquaculture using reclaimed wastewater;
• Enhance wastewater circularity, turning it into a freshwater resource at the point of generation;
• Develop a novel farm-to-fork value chain that supports European economic growth and urban agriculture;
• Lay the groundwork for a supportive regulatory and policy framework for European aquaculture.

Total project eligible costs for AWARE are 4.7 million euros, 4.6 million of this is funded by the European Union under grant agreement number 101084245.