You will probably have seen that there will be no Aquaculture Europe event this year. However, EAS will organise two events in 2021. AE2020 in Cork, Ireland from April 12-15 and AE2021 in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal 6 months later from October 5-8. Here’s the latest update.
AE2020. Cork, Ireland April 12-15, 2021
There is now a momentum in all aspects of food production towards a circular economy whereby we no longer regard waste as a problem to be disposed of, but instead look for ways to make it a resource which can be re-used – thereby closing the loop on aquaculture inputs and outputs and reducing environmental impact.
Aquaculture can take the lead in the Blue – Green Bio-Economy and is well placed to lead by example with new technologies such as land-based marine aquaponics, large-scale recirculating marine farms and innovative, integrated freshwater initiatives on brown field sites. When it comes to having a societal impact, recent research has shown that aquaculture products, from seaweed to salmon, should be included as part of a balanced diet from the first 1000 days right through to promoting healthy ageing.
This conference will bring together stakeholders from many diverse disciplines to discuss and debate cross cutting issues such as new circular economies, life-long health and environmentally sustainable production. The conference parallel sessions will address the overall topic and abstract submission is now open at the AE2020 web site https://aquaeas.org/Abstract/Submit/AE2020 The full list of proposed parallel sessions is here.
AE2020 will take place in Cork, at the Clayton Hotel Silver Springs Congress Centre, from April 12 to April 15, 2021. The Silver Springs is 5km from Cork city centre and shuttle buses will be provided morning and evening to transport delegates.
The AE2020 Opening Ceremony, conference plenary and Student Spotlight Award will take place on Monday, April 12th at 6pm in the Cork City Hall. We have one plenary at AE2020 and it will be presented by Pedro Encarnação, Director Aquacultura at Jerónimo Martins Agri-Business.
His presentation “Vertical Integration – Securing supply, quality and sustainability: The JMA fish case” will cover vertical integration in the supply chain, going from farm to the grocery store, but also projects of circular economy, using the food waste from supermarkets to produce insect meal that can be used to feed fish production. His company is also focusing on locally produced fish products or placing production close to markets so as to increase the freshness of the fish and reduce the carbon footprint.
Pedro Encarnação is an aquaculture expert with extensive experience around the world. He has a bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology and a PhD in Fish Nutrition. In 2005, he moved to Asia as Technical director for Biomin (Biotech in animal nutrition). After 10 years in Asia, he returned to Portugal to join the Jerónimo Martins Agri-Business division as their Aquaculture Director to develop the group expansion in this new area. He is now focussing on developing aquaculture projects to supply the wide group supermarket network.
The Aquaculture Europe events are all about communication with the sector. AE2020 will feature a special international trade exhibition, where Irish and international companies will present their latest products and services. Standard and Corner booths are available and each booth is 6m2 (2x3m) and features walls, carpet, two chairs and one table, spotlights, one power outlet, fascia identification sign and two free full delegate registrations for the conference. Additional staff can register through the booth contract at significantly reduced rates.
The AE Industry Forum is a place where presentations and panel discussions focus on relevant and timely issues for the sector. The Industry Forum in Cork will put the emphasis on cold water marine species and is being organised in cooperation with the Aquaculture section of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) and AE2020 Silver Sponsor, Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM). It will be held all day on Tuesday, April 13th. The programme is under development.
Since 2019, the AE Innovation Forum looks to help accelerate new companies with innovation potential within the aquaculture sector. EAS is teaming up again with HATCH BLUE to organise a full day event on Wednesday, April 14th. The event will feature short presentations and pitches from (young) companies selected through an application process.
As we move forward to develop the programme, we are specifically interested in attracting applications from new companies with innovative ideas and projects that they would like to pitch during the Forum and hearing from investors interested in supporting promising aquaculture initiatives. Applications to pitch can be sent to EAS through this link. The deadline is December 31 this year and successful applicants will be informed by end January latest. The full programme will be available early next year at the AE2020 web page.
The AE event is a focal point for meetings of European associations, satellite workshops of EU projects and other events. We can provide options for your meeting. The EAS thematic groups also organise special sessions and/or workshops within AE2020. Other industry panels will take place around the trade exhibition, and technical tours will be organised.
A special forum will be arranged for students attending AE2020 to enable networking and exchange of ideas. The forum will have a dedicated programme and include a special student reception. Students receive the full registration package plus the student reception. To qualify for the student rate, a copy of your student I.D. is required.
A NEW FEATURE of AE2020 will be the organisation of a 1 day RAS@EAS workshop to be held on Monday, April 12th just before the main event. To complement the science presented in the parallel sessions of the AE conference, RAS@EAS looks to take a different approach, with the emphasis on bringing together key figures from science and industry to focus on key issues, present the latest knowledge and share experience with different species and systems. Each RAS@EAS event will focus on a specific challenge in RAS systems, with several sub-sessions based on interactive discussion and audience participation.
The event in Cork takes the theme “Creating an Optimum Environment”, organised in three sessions addressing these key questions – How do we best approach disinfection? Where are we going with monitoring & autonomy? And What are the most problematic interactions between fish & their environment? Each session will have an introductory presentation, followed by a moderated panel discussion. Registration for this event can be made separately, or included in the full AE2020 registration package.
AE2021. Funchal, Madeira, Portugal. October 4-7, 2021
Europe faces important societal challenges arising from global environmental and social-economical threats. These include climate change, depletion of natural resources including water and energy, pollution, food security and safety and human migrations. But Europe, and particularly the European Union, is also in the forefront in facing these challenges with innovative policies regarding environmental protection, sustainable use of living resources, marine and coastal planning and leading technological developments and innovation.
Aquaculture has a clear place in securing food production in Europe and presents “Oceans of Opportunities” for development and investment if given the political and social licence to expand and develop, with public awareness/acceptance of its role.
AE2021 will take place from October 4-7, 2021 in Funchal, Madeira. Madeira is part of the archipelago with the same name, one of the Autonomous Regions of Portugal, and situated about 1,000 km south of Lisbon and 650 km east of the African coast. Madeira is also part of the Macaronesia ecoregion composed of the Azores, the Republic of Cape Verde and the Canary Islands.
The conference plenary and parallel sessions will address the overall topic and abstract submission will be available within the coming weeks at the AE2021 web site. We are currently working hard with our local organising committees, headed by Carlos Andrade (ARDITI, CIIMAR-University of Porto, Portugal) and Luís Conceição (Sparos, Portugal) to prepare this event and the AE2021 Programme Co-chairs Maria Teresa Dinis (CCMAR-University of Algarve) and Sachi Kaushik (INRAE and EAS Past President) are finalising the list of sessions for abstract submission.
As all our AE event, AE2021 will feature a special international trade exhibition, where Portuguese and international companies will present their latest products and services. Standard and Corner booths are available and each booth is 6m2 (2x3m) and features walls, carpet, two chairs and one table, spotlights, one power outlet, fascia identification sign and two free full delegate registrations for the conference. Additional staff can register through the booth contract at significantly reduced rates.
AE 2021 will also feature an Industry Forum, where presentations and panel discussions focus on relevant and timely issues for the sector and our AE Innovation Forum looking to help accelerate new companies. The EAS thematic groups also organise special sessions and/or workshops within AE2021 and there will be satellite workshops of EU projects and other events taking place around the trade exhibition. Technical and touristic tours will also be organised.
Important dates:
AE2020 Cork
April 12-15, 2021
Abstract deadline: December 31
Early Bird registration deadline: February 15
AE2021 Madeira
October 4-7, 2021
Abstract deadline: May 1
Early Bird registration deadline: July 15
Contacts:
General conference and EAS membership: eas@aquaeas.eu
Booth sales, exhibitor contracts, sponsorship and media partners mario@marevent.com
