Researching circular bio-economy solutions for sustainable aquaculture in Europe

Session 3: Friday 26th June, 09:30 - 12:45 CEST - sUSTAINABILITY & aCCEPTABILITY

Introduction & Chair: Richard Newton, University of Stirling (SAFE)

Dr Richard Newton is a lecturer in the Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, and has worked across the global aquaculture industry for twenty five years in several non-academic and academic roles. His specialism is in aquaculture systems, value chains, resource management and efficiency modelling, including sustainability assessments and construction of sustainability indices. He has a strong background in adding value and improving sustainability at post-harvest/processing by redirecting wastes and by-products more effectively, including better separation, maximising edible yields, improving livestock feed, extracting valuable components, etc to maximise the use of aquaculture resources.

Presentation 1 (09:50): Sustainability Assessment in Water and Aquaculture Systems: Challenges, Benefits, and Applications. Eoghan Clifford and Bernardete Rodrigues, University of Galway  (SAFE)

Dr. Eoghan Clifford (Principal Investigator, UoG). Eoghan (Chartered Engineer) works as a Senior Lecturer in Civil Engineering, at the University of Galway. His role as the Principal Investigator on this project includes overall project coordination and oversight of RTC performance analysis and data verification. He has led the design and installation of on-site research water and wastewater treatment (ranging in size from 5 – 750 PE) and associated monitoring systems in 10 countries. His contributed to over 200 publications, including more than 80 peer-reviewed journal articles, over 150 conference publications and proceedings, technical reports, and additional contributions to conferences and media. He also holds five patents, primarily focused on advancements in wastewater treatment technologies.

Bernardete Rodrigues (Research Associate, UoG). Bernardete is currently the lead researcher of the ACET project at UoG. She has over a decade of academic and R&D experience with a background in water treatment technologies, water quality assessment, and bioremediation approaches using nature-based solutions. She also has hands-on experience in operation and maintenance of WWTP monitoring equipment, GHG emissions assessment in wastewater treatment processes, and knowledge of environmental impact assessment

Presentation 2 (10:20): Circular aquaculture in the EU: Barriers and opportunities under current policies. Isabell Storsjö, SYKE (SAFE) & Bruna Maia, 3Bio (INNOAQUA)

Isabell Storsjö (D.Sc.(Econ.); LL.M.) is a Senior Researcher in the Transformation Governance group, Societal Change unit, of the Finnish Environment Institute (Syke). She is currently working in EU-funded projects researching sustainable freshwater aquaculture, innovative approaches to sustainable and equitable water use, and practical tools and approaches to support marine protection area (MPA) design, management, and governance.

Bruna Gomes Maia is an environmental and regulatory lawyer based in Belgium, with expertise in EU regulatory frameworks, biodiversity law, Access and Benefit-Sharing, and Nagoya Protocol compliance. She works as a legal consultant at 3Bio, contributing to EU-funded projects on sustainable innovation, including circular approaches in aquaculture. She is also a PhD candidate at the University of Antwerp, where her research focuses on multilateral and regional benefit-sharing models under the Nagoya Protocol.

Presentation 3 (10:50): Patent landscaping - hands on session with Aquaponics case study. Fabio Ugolini, INNOVA SRL (AWARE)

Dr. Fabio Ugolini is an environmental microbiologist who has been working for 15+ years in international projects as a communication and exploitation manager. He is the coordinator of AWARE - Aquaponics from WAstewater REclamation (www.aware-eu.eu) and the CEO of IntroVertical (www.introvertical.it), a company specialising in impact assessment and project management

Presentation 4 (11:30): Exploring the financial and economic viability of circular bio-economy innovations. John Bostock, University of Stirling (SAFE)

John Bostock is a Senior Research Assistant at the Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling. He has extensive experience in aquaculture sector consultancy, teaching and project management. As part of the SmartAqua4FuturE project he is especially working on the economics of circular bioeconomy solutions for aquaculture, sustainable business models and consumer perceptions.

Presentation 5 (12:00): Building resilience in EU aquaculture value chains through circularity. Wesley Malcorps, University of Stirling (SAFE)

Wesley Malcorps (Research Fellow) holds a PhD from the Institute of Aquaculture at the University of Stirling (UK) and is passionate about aquaculture value chains, sustainable growth strategies, by-product utilisation, traceability, and digitalisation. He is involved in various aquaculture projects delivering sustainability improvements globally.