Circular Aquaculture: Udine at the Center of Innovation

On October 10, starting at 9:00 a.m., the Sala della Vite e del Vino of the Department of Agro-Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences (DI4A) of the University of Udine (via Sondrio 2/A, Udine) will host an event dedicated to circular aquaculture, focusing on the Circular Rainbow and Acquainnova 2.0 projects. The event will offer an opportunity for dialogue among researchers, businesses, and institutions on the prospects of a sector that is increasingly strategic for sustainability and food security.

The event, titled “CIRCULAR AQUACULTURE: updates on feed and technological aspects”, will combine two interconnected topics through seven presentations.

The first group of presentations is linked to the project “Acquainnova 2.0”, co-funded by the MASAF — explains Prof. Emilio Tibaldi, scientific coordinator of the project — which aims to introduce “circular” feeds for trout and sea bream, two of the most farmed species in Italy.
“In particular, we are focusing on PAPs — processed animal proteins — to reduce dependence on fishmeal, fish oil, and plant ingredients that compete with other livestock sectors and human food. This is not just about proposing new feed formulations: our goal is to promote sustainability at 360 degrees, including economic aspects, environmental footprint, animal welfare, food quality and safety, as well as consumer acceptance of fish products obtained with ‘circular’ feeds.”

The second group concerns the research and activities of the Circular Rainbow project, co-funded by the Interreg Italy–Slovenia Programme, and focuses on farming technologies.
“With Circular Rainbow,” emphasizes Prof. Gloriana Cardinaletti, project coordinator, “we are developing recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) that allow for optimal use of an increasingly precious resource: water. We want to demonstrate that, when applied to trout farming, RAS can become a cutting-edge model of circular economy, also valorising its effluents through anaerobic digestion or their bioconversion using insects. This can be a key step in integrating aquaculture with other agro-industrial supply chains and strengthening business competitiveness.”

One of the highlights of the day will be the presentation by Johan Johansen, Head of Research at NIBIO – Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, who will introduce the “RASrace – an innovative, energy-efficient Recirculation System”, an innovative RAS model, energy-efficient and low-impact, already successfully tested in Northern Europe.

The day will conclude with the inauguration and guided tour of the experimental RAS plant at the A. Servadei Agricultural Company of the University of Udine, in Pagnacco (UD).
Participants will have the opportunity to observe firsthand the operation of the first digitalized RAS system in the Triveneto region, experiencing how research and innovation are supporting companies in the sector.

The detailed event agenda is attached: 

Online participation is also available. Slovenian interpretation will be provided.