The two-year standard project CIRCULAR RAINBOW - Promoting circular trout farming that optimizes production, environmental and economic sustainability, and responds to the effects of climate change, under the Interreg VI-A Italy-Slovenia 2021-2027 Programme, organized the project presentation conference titled "Precision trout farming to address environmental challenges through a circular concept," held on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at 9:00 AM, in the "Viteška dvorana" of the Department of Animal Science, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Groblje 3, 1230 Domžale, Slovenia.
The conference was organized by partner PP2 (University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty) in a hybrid format, allowing for both in-person and online participation. Interpretation services were provided for the Italian and the Slovenian language, and vice versa, both on-site and remotely. The project lead partner, University of Udine (LP), supported the event organization by handling the communication and dissemination of the conference.
As per the program, the event was opened by Prof. Tatjana Firman, Vice-Dean of the Biotechnical Faculty, and Dr. Dušan Terčič, coordinator of PP2 and WP1 leader. Subsequently, the project coordinator, Dr. Gloriana Cardinaletti (University of Udine), illustrated the project’s activities and timeline, with a focus on recirculating aquaculture systems, the core of the project. Miha Štular from PP4 (Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry of Slovenia - Agricultural and Forestry Institute Kranj, KGZS-Zavod KR) and Andrea Fabris, director of API (Italian Fish Farmers Association), presented the current state of trout farming in Slovenia and the Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia regions, offering an overview of the sector in the cross-border area where the project activities are located.
Next, the project's research activities were discussed: Prof. Dušan Terčič spoke about welfare indicators in farmed rainbow trout, while Prof. Roberto Pastres from PP3 (BlueFarm srl) introduced the concept of precision trout farming and the technological innovations to be tested during the 24 months of the project. Prof. Alessandro Chiumenti and Prof. Francesco Da Borso from the University of Udine (LP) presented the results of previous projects and research on the use of aquaculture sludge as a potential source of biogas. Finally, Prof. Francesca Tulli from the University of Udine illustrated the possibilities of using insects as "an innovative tool" for waste bioconversion in trout farming.
The conference concluded with farewells and a lunch with refreshments for the participants.
