Aqua innovators invited to bid for European funding
Europe’s leading food innovation initiative EIT Food has launched a call inviting proposals for collaborative projects to bring innovative solutions in the agrifood sector, including aquaculture, to the market.
Supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), EIT Food’s vision is a world where everybody can access and enjoy sustainable, safe, and healthy food.
Last year seven aquaculture-related collaborative projects received grant funding under the programme, underlining EIT Food’s focus on the potential of farmed seafood as a source of protein for food with a low-carbon footprint and the importance of aquaculture in building a sustainable food system.
Sea lice removal
One of the recipients was the BREEZE initiative currently being developed by a consortium made up of Aqua Pharma Group, Pulcea and the Norwegian University of Science & Technology with support from the University of Stirling’s Institute of Aquaculture and the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC) in Scotland.
BREEZE combines Aqua Pharma Group’s existing hydrogen peroxide treatment with the acoustic based technology pioneered by Pulcea to improve the efficiency of sea lice removal from fish in a gentle treatment. A post-treatment biological clean-up process using enzymes then speeds up the decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide into oxygen and water, making the system suitable for use even in environmentally sensitive areas.
Hanne Mertens from lead consortium partner Aqua Pharma Group said: “The generous award we received from EIT Food earlier this year has significantly enhanced our ability to deliver our innovative technology targeted towards the sustainable farming of ocean waters.
“We have a great responsibility to increase transparency in aquaculture and to reassure consumers that the fish we eat is sustainably farmed according to the highest welfare standards.”
Find out more information on how to submit a proposal to EIT Food here.
