AQUAEXCEL3.0 E-Newsletter: Issue 2
Learn more about AQUAEXCEL3.0, its recent events, pitching courses, and other success stories.
Innovation Forum at Aquaculture Europe 2022
The European Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Platform, the European Commission and the European Aquaculture Society organised on Thursday, September 29, at Aquaculture Europe 2022, Rimini the :
Aquaculture Europe 2022 Innovation Forum
“From Policy to Solutions”
Creating the correct circumstances for the successful uptake of innovation solutions across aquaculture value chains benefits from a methodological approach considering industry needs alongside strategic political and policy objectives, coupled with an understanding of appropriate delivery vehicles. Multiple knowledge transfer and facilitation routes, including platforms, projects, accelerators, and dissemination/education tools all have a key role to play in effective innovation transfer and capacity building.
The AE2022 Innovation Forum aimed at industry actors, policy makers, knowledge transfer experts, and those engaging in aquaculture knowledge development and collaboration, to inform how best to ensure meaningful knowledge & innovation transfer addressing research gaps and priorities for action whilst ensuring impact.
10:30 to 11:30 Part I. The Policy environment as a driver for Innovation Uptake
Moderated by David Bassett, EATiP
Short, focussed presentations with Q&A after each
- Global aquaculture policies as a lead for setting priorities nationally – Austin Stankus, FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Division
- Implementing the Research and Innovation aspects of the Strategic Guidelines and the Aquaculture Assistance Mechanism for a more sustainable and competitive European Aquaculture – Lorella de la Cruz, European Commission, DG MARE
- A new approach for a sustainable Blue Economy – Blue farming within the Green Deal & Farm to Fork Strategies – Birgit Van Tongelen, European Commission DG MARE
- Mission Restore Our Ocean & Waters – Taking a Regional /Basin Approach – Nikos Zampoukas, European Commission DG RTD
11:30 to 12:30 Part II. The Building Blocks
Moderated by Mieke Eggermont, EATiP Mirror Platform Working Group
A panel-based discussion focussing on the available instruments and how they operate to facilitate the identification of needed innovations and mechanisms to maximise uptake.
Contributions from
- Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) smart specialisation platform(s) for Aquaculture – David Basset, EATiP
- EATiP Mirror Platforms: regional & national clusters:
- Ann Cecilie Hilling, NCE Aquaculture
- Yolanda Molares & Agustín I. López Gialdi, ACUIPLUS
- National Innovation Organisations – Øyvind E. Haga, Innovation Norway
- European Institute of Innovation & Technology – Mercedes Groba, EIT Food
12:30 to 14:30 Lunch (on your own) and visit to the AE2022 Trade Show
14.30 to 15:15 Part III. Facilitating the uptake
Moderated by Damian Toner, EAS
Following up to Part II, with a focus on concrete measures within the policy and building blocks of the previous sessions to present and discuss approaches, experiences and best practice.
- How to throw good money after good money: getting from public funding to the market – Ingeborg Korme, BlueBio Cofund
- Commercialising innovation in aquaculture: lessons from Hatch Blue – Chris Sworder, HATCH Blue
- Rethinking Communication, Dissemination and Exploitation (CDE) approaches for Industry Impact – Frederick Bruce, SUBMARINER Network
15:15 to 17:15 Part IV. Selected Case Studies
Moderated by Alexandra Neyts, AQUAEXCEL3.0
Watch AQUAEXCEL3.0 videos
Selection of case studies with outputs leading to either increased TRL
or with high innovation potential.
AQUAEXCEL3.0 Transnational access high-impact outputs:
- Massimo Orioles: Red Mark Syndrome in rainbow trout: advances in diagnostics and management strategies
- Ricardo Ekmay: Beyond insect flour: use of Wood-Based Yeast SCP (single-cell protein) as an ingredient for Trout diets
- Hijran Yavuzcan: A novel welfare assessment tool for sea-caged European Seabass: the SWIM (Salmon Welfare Index Model) approach
- Raneesha De Fonseka: Triploid salmon: how salinity influences their growth and welfare
- Dinara Bekkozhayeva: No more tags: a novel method to identify fish by using their scale patterns
Discussion chaired by Kjell Maroni, FHF and member of AQUAEXCEL3.0 IRAP
Research-based industry innovations and start-ups:
- Industry innovations: Viking Aqua (AquaBioTech, Shane Hunter)
- Accelerators: Planktonic (Antonio Coli)
- Knowledge and Innovation Community: Next Tuna (Paul Sindilariu)
17:15 Wrap up – with the 4 moderators giving a short summary of their parts.
AQUAEXCEL3.0 Call for TransNational Access
Apply for fully EC-funded access to top class aquaculture research infrastructures with AQUAEXCEL3.0
The AQUAEXCEL3.0 project unites major aquaculture experimental facilities with capacity to undertake experimental trials on a selection of commercially important aquaculture species and system types. These facilities are made available to the research community for Transnational Access (TNA) with the support of the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (Infrastructures).
Transnational Access involves a research group in one country collaborating with one or more AQUAEXCEL3.0 Infrastructures that are located in a different country to the applicant, and which offer facilities and expertise not available in their own country. The collaboration normally takes the form of one or more scientists from the applicant organisation visiting the selected AQUAEXCEL3.0 installation to undertake research work there for up to 3 months. In some cases, remote access is also available (where the applicant is not present for some or all of the experimental period at the installation).
The facilities available cover the entire range of aquaculture production systems (recirculation, flowthrough, cage, hatchery and pond systems); environments (freshwater and marine, cold, temperate and warm water); scales (small, medium and industrial scale); culture species (fish, shellfish, seaweeds and insects); and fields of expertise (nutrition, physiology, health and welfare, genetics, engineering, monitoring and management technologies).
The overall objective of the project is to promote the coordinated use and development of these experimental facilities and encourage problem-based research and knowledge transfer to more effectively support the development of a sustainable European production of high-quality seafood with reduced environmental impact. The establishment of new transnational collaborations is strongly encouraged, as well as the participation by SMEs.
Applications for Transnational Access can be made at any time (continuously open call).
More details and to apply: see attached flyer, and https://aquaexcel.eu/transnational-access/
More information on each facility can be found here: https://aquaexcel.eu/resource-infrastructures/ and https://aquaexcel.eu/interactive-map/ – including pictures and videos of the facilities. Interested people with a project idea who need a little help finding the right facility can contact our orientation committee at aquaexcel-OC@inra.fr.
We also have a number of “success stories” from previous TNA users – https://aquaexcel.eu/media-centre/ and https://aquaexcel2020.eu/results (check out the Video and Innovative Outputs sections) which can be used as inspiration.
AQUAEXCEL3.0 is a research infrastructure project funded under the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme and coordinated by the French National Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE). The project aims to further support the sustainable growth of the European aquaculture sector. For more details see the project website: https://aquaexcel.eu/
AQUAEXCEL3.0: Apply now
Do you work in public or private Aquaculture Research (including for SMEs) and want to gain open, inclusive, streamlined and free access to the best Aquaculture Research Infrastructures in Europe?
Apply now for fully EC-funded access to top class aquaculture research infrastructures with AQUAEXCEL3.0
The AQUAEXCEL3.0 project unites major aquaculture experimental facilities with capacity to undertake experimental trials on a selection of commercially important aquaculture species and system types. These facilities are made available to the research community for Transnational Access (TNA) with the support of the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (Infrastructures).
Transnational Access involves a research group in one country collaborating with one or more AQUAEXCEL3.0 Infrastructures that are located in a different country to the applicant, and which offer facilities and expertise not available in their own country. The collaboration normally takes the form of one or more scientists from the applicant organisation visiting the selected AQUAEXCEL3.0 installation to undertake research work there for up to 3 months. In some cases, remote access is also available (where the applicant is not present for some or all of the experimental period at the installation).
The facilities available cover the entire range of aquaculture production systems (recirculation, flowthrough, cage, hatchery and pond systems); environments (freshwater and marine, cold, temperate and warm water); scales (small, medium and industrial scale); culture species (fish, shellfish, seaweeds and insects); and fields of expertise (nutrition, physiology, health and welfare, genetics, engineering, monitoring and management technologies).
The overall objective of the project is to promote the coordinated use and development of these experimental facilities and encourage problem-based research and knowledge transfer to more effectively support the development of a sustainable European production of high-quality seafood with reduced environmental impact. The establishment of new transnational collaborations is strongly encouraged, as well as the participation by SMEs.
Applications for Transnational Access can be made at any time (continuously open call).
More details and to apply: see attached flyer, and https://aquaexcel.eu/transnational-access/
More information on each facility can be found here: https://aquaexcel.eu/resource-infrastructures/ and https://aquaexcel.eu/interactive-map/ – including pictures and videos of the facilities. Interested people with a project idea who need a little help finding the right facility can contact our orientation committee at aquaexcel-OC@inra.fr.
We also have a number of “success stories” from previous TNA users – https://aquaexcel.eu/media-centre/ and https://aquaexcel2020.eu/results (check out the Video and Innovative Outputs sections) which can be used as inspiration.
AQUAEXCEL3.0 is a research infrastructure project funded under the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme and coordinated by the French National Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE). The project aims to further support the sustainable growth of the European aquaculture sector. For more details see the project website: https://aquaexcel.eu/
EATiP Annual General Meeting
21th & 22nd of June 2022 – NHOW Hotel, Rue Royale 250, Brussels
Schedule:
DAY 1 – 21th June 2022
- 08:30 – 09:00 Registration
- 09:00 – 12:30 “Smart Specialisation for Sustainable Blue Economy” an Aquaculture Brokerage Event
- 12:30 Lunch for participants
- 14:30 – 18:00 EATiP Annual General Meeting
- Theme 1: Aquaculture to 2030 – The European Policy Context
- Opening Key Note Speech: “Aquaculture Research & Innovation in DG MARE”
- Research and Innovation support for aquaculture within Horizon Europe and the European Missions
- Research and Innovation objectives within the work of the Aquaculture Advisory Council
- Theme 2: Considering industry priorities for research and barriers to innovation uptake.
- Industry Research priorities – a finfish perspective
- Industry Research priorities – a shellfish perspective.
- Aquaculture, Nature Based Solutions and addressing wider aquatic ecosystem research needs
- Identified research priorities within other aquaculture networks: the work of SCAR-Fish, EFARO and KBBE networks.
- Theme 3: Effective interactions within the new research and innovation landscape: applying innovation to ensure collaboration and common goals in the Blue Bio Economy
- EATiP & AquaEXCEL 3.0
- Commercialisation of research outputs for industry needs – The JPI & BlueBio Cofund perspective
- Smart Specialisation for the Blue Economy and Aquaculture
- EATiP Mirror Platforms: case studies of regional and inter-regional collaboration
- Theme 1: Aquaculture to 2030 – The European Policy Context
DAY 2 – 22nd June 2022
- 09:30 – 11:30 EATiP General Assembly
- 11:45 – 12:30 Governance Issues (only for EATiP members)
- 14:30 EATiP Mirror Platform Meeting (for mirror platforms and their members only)
GENE EDITING
The webinar recordings and report are now available.
CRISPR-Cas9 is a specific gene editing methodology that allows genetic material to be altered at particular locations of the genome. This technology is fast, cheap, accurate and efficient, and provides a potential supplement to traditional breeding methods. Genome editing gained interest by the aquaculture community as it can contribute to increasing the sustainability of the sector through the production of more robust and/or sterile fish. So what exactly are the opportunities gene editing creates for aquaculture, are there any ethical concerns, and is the legislation on the verge of being more liberal when it comes to using this technique in the cultivation of food from the oceans?
EATiP Forum / Breeders Talk Blue event, was jointly organized EATiP and EFFAB-FABRE TP, on the potential and opportunities of Gene Editing in Aquaculture.
Various presentations from the European Commission, different scientists from renowned Institutes and private sector experts exchanged and discussed around the following topics:
- The use of gene editing technique (like CRISPRR-Cas9) to improve the breeders toolbox linked to specific applications, such as sterility, disease resistance..
- The link to exploring opportunities to adapt legislation
- Search for evidence and research gaps that help understand the safety of the technique
- Exploring the expectations of the sector and stakeholders, including concerns related to Animal Welfare
Watch the video
26 APRIL 2022
Agenda (10:00 – 12:00)
Welcoming address:
- David Bassett | EATiP and Ana Granados | EFFAB / FABRE TP
Opening talks
- Gene editing in Europe – a policy status, by Frank Swartenbroux | EC DG SANTE Biotechnology unit
- Gene editing – what is it about?, by Diego Robledo | Roslin Institute
Presentations
- Targeting sterility in fish, by Anna Wargelius | Institute of Marine Research
- Disease resistance, by Ross Houston | Benchmark Genetics
- Salmon lice resistance, by Tone-Kari Knutsdatter Østbye | Nofima
- Gene editing approaches, by Alan Tinch | Center for Aquaculture Technologies
Webinar conclusions
BEST PRACTICES IN AQUACULTURE
The development of best practices is an important part of the recently launched strategic guidelines for a more sustainable and competitive EU aquaculture. The European Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Platform (EATiP) and the Ocean Best Practices System (OBPS) of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) jointly organized this workshop to stimulate sharing of knowledge and to promote best practice development across aquaculture systems and regions in Europe. The aim to consolidate data sharing and best practices relates to a broad range of aquaculture areas such as spatial planning, animal health and welfare, traceability, environmental performance.
The workshop provided the participants with a better understanding of how to develop and maintain best practices within the existing boundaries for sharing of data. It also showed examples of how good practices at a local, regional or EU level can contribute to better aquaculture planning and control. It also looked into opportunities for guidance and collaborative actions on how to support best practices in aquaculture.
5 APRIL 2022 – 13:00 – 16:30 (CEST – UTC+2)
Agenda
- Welcome by EATIP. David Bassett | EATiP
- Welcome by OBPS. Jay Pearlman | OBPS
- Policy and regulations. Lana Bezinovic Sostar | European Commission, DG MARE
- About Best Practices and OBPS. Johannes Karstensen | GEOMAR, IODE OBPS Steering Group
- Aquaculture operations across standards, certification schemes and best practices. Panel dialogue.
- Javier Ojeda | FEAP
- Bruno Guillaumie | EMPA
- Otto Gregussen | Standards Norway
- Best Practices in Aquaculture – use cases across Production System and Regional approaches.
- OPS Seafood – Norway. Edvard Pedersen | The Brønnøysund Register Centre
- PerformFish benchmarking system – Mediterranean. Giovanna Marino | ISPRA
- General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean. Houssam Hamza & Linda Fourdain | FAO-NFIGD
- AquaPEF – implementing PEF in aquaculture. Saioa Ramos | AZTI
Break
- Framing the issues on sharing of best practices in aquaculture
- Breakouts for discussion & Report out
- Recommendations
- Adjourn
Aquaculture gets Smart!
We are delighted to be working with European Commission DG MARE to co host a brokerage event in Brussels, Belgium, on the topic of Smart Specialisation for a Sustainable Blue Economy
The event will take place on the morning 0f 21 June 2022, with participation free and open to all. Further details follow below.
DG MARE has identified smart specialisation strategies (S3) as a key tool to implement the Communication on Sustainable Blue Economy adopted in May 2021.
Accordingly, in coordination with DG REGIO, DG MARE is setting up a smart specialization platform for sustainable blue economy and is organising a series of brokerage events to promote smart specialisation interregional partnerships and blue economy value chains. EATiP have been pro-actively working with DG MARE since the summer of 2021 to ensure that aquaculture is successfully included in this work.
These events will support matchmaking activities in order to:
- facilitate aquaculture and wider blue economy stakeholders’ networking and exchange
- promote the definition of stakeholders’ complementarities and synergies in terms of interregional value chains/partnerships
- support exchange of potential partnership ideas and expression of interest
- share best practices and lessons learned on S3 interregional partnerships set up and implementation
Background to the Overall framework
In May 2021 the Communication on Sustainable Blue Economy (SBE) was adopted as integral part of the European Green Deal.
DG MARE has identified Smart specialisation strategies (S3) as a key tool to implement the Communication. In fact S3 represent a key opportunity, not only to prioritise regional research and innovation investments in blue economy sectors, but also to promote interregional partnerships and blue economy value chains across borders.
Accordingly, DG MARE in cooperation with DG REGIO, is setting up the S3 thematic platform for sustainable blue economy to support interregional partnerships and value chains thus facilitating the cooperation among blue economy 4 helix stakeholders.
Main objective
S3 is a useful tool to support transition towards a sustainable blue economy by creating the necessary innovation ecosystems in Member States and Regions while promoting investments that boost the competitiveness of blue economy sectors.
DG MARE, in cooperation with EATiP is organising this dedicated brokerage session to promote the potentialities of S3 aquaculture interregional partnerships, in particular in the framework of the I3 instrument and the currently open calls.
Target participants
As a multi-stakeholder platform for promotion innovation and research in aquaculture, EATiP is ideally placed to reach out to the target audience for this event. The brokerage session seeks participation from all actors that are part of the smart specialisation quadruple helix stakeholders’ matrix: regional and national authorities, SMEs/start-ups/industry, clusters/business hubs, universities and research institutes, innovation and technological transfer entities and experts on technological transfer/ internationalisation and scale-up.
Reports on EATiP / Copernicus events
Three reports have been published following the EATIP / Copernicus events organised in 2019/2020/2021
