The BeBlue project, funded under the Interreg Italy-Slovenia Program, was successfully presented at the international agricultural and food fair AGRA, held in Gornja Radgona. The fair, which annually attracts over 100,000 visitors and 1,700 exhibitors from 35 countries, provided an excellent opportunity to showcase the BeBlue project to a broader audience.
KGZS Zavod Kranj, one of the project partners, presented innovative approaches to food production through aquaponics on August 28, 2024, at the stand of the Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry of Slovenia in Hall B. The director of the institute, Mitja Kadoič, and aquaculture specialist Miha Štular provided visitors with a detailed overview of their work, focusing on promoting sustainable aquaculture and developing aquaponic systems.
They are currently conducting a test that focuses on the following key steps:
- Increasing fish density in rearing tanks: The goal is to reach the maximum fish density that the system can support without losses, thereby increasing production efficiency.
- Producing nitrates for plants: Higher fish density leads to increased nitrate production, which is crucial for plant nutrition in the aquaponic system.
- Improving feed conversion: By optimizing feeding, they achieve lower feed consumption per unit of fish raised, contributing to greater cost-effectiveness and sustainability of the system.
These improvements significantly impact reducing the carbon and water footprint per unit of fish or vegetable produced, which is essential for the future development of sustainable agriculture.
At the exhibition stand, the representatives from KGZS Zavod Kranj were joined by Neo Štembergar, the director of KZ Agraria Koper. KZ Agraria Koper, also a partner in the BeBlue project, actively contributes to the development of sustainable farming methods, particularly in the vegetable production sector.
With its innovative approaches, the BeBlue project represents an important step forward in sustainable food production, reducing environmental impact, and efficiently using natural resources.
