Finland.- A joint conference on freshwater aquaculture was organised in Brussels on 13 November 2019. Organised by Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) and the Finnish Presidency of the Council of the European Union and hosted by the European Committee of the Regions, the conference discussed how new innovations can support sustainable expansion of the industry.
The conference introduced the current state of the preparation of new aquaculture strategies in the Horizon Europe, the next EU Research & Innovation investment programme, and in New European Green Deal and the Farm to Fork Strategy, for an audience of around 70 people. These aim for more sustainable and self sufficient food production within the EU.
The innovations for sustainable aquaculture presented by companies and researchers included advanced added value products, the use of side streams for zero waste, intensified pond farming, new species, recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), selective breeding, and improvement of the water quality of aquatic environments by controlling nutrient loading from agriculture, forestry, and human communities.
One of the major messages of the conference was that farmed fish are biologically very efficient and farming operations typically need low amounts of energy, making aquaculture a resource-efficient and low carbon-emission way to produce healthy food. To achieve the strategic goals for more jobs, economic growth and investments, higher self sufficiency and controlled environmental impact, there is a need for novel innovations that are implemented in the aquaculture value chains as well as refined legislation that allows sustainable growth of aquaculture.
New Innovations in Freshwater Aquaculture – Reflections from the conference moderator
Antti Kause (Natural Resources Institute Finland, Luke).
See the presentations
– New innovations in freshwater aquaculture – Potential for expansion of aquaculture in Europe
– Research and innovations in Hungarian aquaculture
– Supporting R&I in Freshwater aquaculture
– Current state and future possibilities of sustainable fish farming in Finland and Sweden
– Recircularing aquaculture systems (RAS) as a complementary production technology for fish farming
– Working towards a reviewed strategy for EU aquaculture
More information
Antti Kause
Principal Scientist
tel. +358295326222
antti.kause@luke.fi
Jouni Vielma
Principal Scientist, Research manager
tel. +358295327522
jouni.vielma@luke.fi
Petri Suuronen
Development Manager
tel. +358295322068
petri.suuronen@luke.fi
Source: Luke
