Great success for the "Aquaponic Day" held on 16 October at the Scientific Campus of the Ca' Foscari University of Venice, as part of the Interreg Italy-Slovenia BeBlue project. The event, which focused on the innovative technology of aquaponics, attracted a knowledgeable and engaged audience who showed great interest and active participation throughout the day.
The meeting explored the potential of aquaponics - a combination of aquaculture and hydroponics - as a sustainable solution to future food and environmental challenges. The many expert presentations and discussions highlighted the importance of building a complete supply chain, from producer to consumer, to make these products available to the general public.
The audience of sector experts and stakeholders actively interacted with the speakers, asking many technical questions and enthusiastically participating in the debates. This confirmed the participants' strong interest in sustainability and new food technologies, and demonstrated a widespread awareness of the environmental and quality benefits of aquaponics. In the afternoon, thanks to synergy with the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP)-funded iNEST project, the focus broadened to include the entire seafood supply chain, including both wild-caught and farmed fish, involving different consumer groups.
During the day, participants had the opportunity to visit the pilot plant located at the Scientific Campus and managed by the Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics of Ca' Foscari University. The pilot plant is currently experimenting with aquaponic production of salicornia, algae and sea bream. These visits allowed participants to see first-hand how this integrated system works, providing a concrete example of how aquaponics can offer an innovative and sustainable solution to food production.
The day ended with a renewed commitment from all participants to continue the dialogue and collaboration to overcome the remaining challenges to establish a complete 'farm to fork' supply chain and make aquaponics a solid reality in the marketplace.
The debate is open: will aquaponic products win over the general public? If the success of this event is any indication, the answer could be yes.
