On January 15, 2025, a workshop was held at the Biotechnical Faculty of the University of Ljubljana as part of the BeBlue project, which promotes innovations and sustainable solutions in agriculture. The event was organized by project partners Shoreline and KGZS Zavod Kranj in collaboration with the Biotechnical Faculty.
Participants toured the pilot aquaponic system and engaged in an in-depth discussion about the potential for aquaponics development in Slovenia. Key findings from the discussion included:
• Local origin takes priority: Slovenian consumers value the local origin of food over the production method, creating opportunities for aquaponics while highlighting the need for greater promotion and awareness.
• Potential for microgreens and fish fillets: Microgreens and fish fillets produced via aquaponics have significant market potential and could become part of new dietary habits.
• Challenges in expertise and implementation: Developing aquaponic systems requires broad specialist knowledge, ranging from agronomy to fish farming, which currently limits wider adoption.
• Need to promote sustainable practices: Consumers could recognize aquaponic products as sustainable, but this requires long-term promotion and trust-building efforts.
The workshop provided clear insights into the state of aquaponics and its development opportunities in Slovenia. The BeBlue project is co-financed by the EU under the Interreg VI-A Italy-Slovenia Programme. Learn more at www.ita-slo.eu/beblue.
