Integrated Aquaculture-Innovative Marin Production System
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | IVL SVENSKA MILJÖINSTITUTET AB - IVL Svenska Miljöinstitutet |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 483 000 |
| Project duration | April 2016 - January 2017 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | Challenge-Driven Innovation – Stage 1 initiation |
Important results from the project
This project aims to tackle the specific societal challenges: - How can we reduce our needs for fossil fuel? ... without compete with food production? ... and reduce eutrophication of the seas? The project will achieve these multiple benefits by co-cultivation and harvesting of sea squirt, seaweed and fish. The integrated aquaculture will deliver the following benefits: * Biogas (digestion of sea squirt and algae) * Eco fertilizer (from digestate) * Ecosystem services * Uptake of nutrients * Fish feed, food, agar, dyes, high-quality cellulose, chemicals, etc.
Expected long term effects
Project results: * Products with the greatest economic potential identified; fodder from the sea squirt. * Needs and requirements of relevant actors identified. * Concept for integrated aquaculture defined and patent application submitted. * Plan for the further development and utilization produced. Outcome: * A new sustainable marine industry which provides employment. * New high-value products and fossil energy. * Reduction of nitrogen and phosphorus load in the oceans. * Increased self-sufficiency with reduced dependence on overseas sources of protein.
Approach and implementation
The project has been implemented in several work packages complemented by a number of cross-functional workshops. IVL has acted as project manager and coordinated the project in close collaboration with Marin Biogas. One important activity has been to carry out an in-depth market analysis of the potential products that the system can generate. The analysis shows that fodder appear to be most interesting from a commercial perspective, while one hectare sea squirt culturing can generate up to 160 tonnes of protein per year, that implies a potential gain of 160 kEUR per hectare and year.