From 3 to 5 October 2025, the Interreg Italy–Slovenia Circular Rainbow project took part in the 30th Komenda Autumn Fair (Sejem Komenda), one of Slovenia’s most important trade events, bringing the concepts of sustainable, innovative and circular aquaculture to the forefront.
At stand no. 8, set up at the Komenda Hippodrome, the Slovenian project partners – the University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Animal Science, and KGZS Zavod Kranj – presented the project’s activities, key results and future perspectives, highlighting the strong cross-border cooperation aimed at developing more responsible and technologically advanced production models.
The exhibition area featured a large screen showing a project presentation video with Slovenian subtitles, alongside a range of informative materials focusing on recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS – Recirculating Aquaculture System), which had already attracted significant interest at previous editions of the fair. Bilingual posters and brochures (in Italian and Slovenian) allowed visitors to explore the project’s objectives and solutions in greater depth.
Particular attention was given to the promotion and tasting of fish products obtained from partial RAS systems, including rainbow trout caviar, smoked fish meat and pâté. These products provided tangible examples of how technological innovation can be combined with high quality, sustainability and new market opportunities.
The event also showcased the aquaculture companies involved in the project, such as Ribogojnica Vodomec, underlining the strong link between research, pilot activities and real-world production practices.
Participation in the Komenda Fair offered an important opportunity for dialogue with sector professionals, families and the wider public, strengthening the visibility of the Circular Rainbow project and fostering interaction between research institutions, businesses and local communities. The event marked another step forward towards a more sustainable, circular and cross-border-oriented aquaculture sector.
