INNOWWIDE brings the most innovative European SMEs to international markets

Bioazul presented a proposal on a filtering system for aquaculture within the European call INNOWWIDE

INNOWWIDE is a project within the H2020 program that allows the financing of other projects. It aims to bring the most innovative European SMEs to the forefront of international markets through the financing of feasibility assessment projects (VAP) in cooperation with local stakeholders. It will, then, create the conditions to increase the uptake of European innovative solutions in markets outside of Europe.

Bioazul has participated in this call by presenting the AquaSuRe project, a water filtration system for continental aquaculture adapted to the investment capacity and local circumstances of small producers in Colombia. This filter is responsible for purifying the organic matter that is in the water, such as food waste and fish feces, before discharging it into rivers or lakes. This system avoids contamination problems downstream, in other producers and in the water consumption of other cities.

The implementation of the pilot will be carried out together with the collaboration of ASTRUCEL, the Agricultural Association of Trout Producers in the village La Cecilia dedicated to improving the quality of life of farmers in the area of Cauca Valley. This association is formed by 28 small producers that represent 60% of producers in the region. They will be responsible of testing the system as a first step before a future cooperation project.

This project supposes several technical and economic challenges, that is to say, that it is affordable and adaptable to the capacities of the producers of the zone and is that the valley is affected by the guerrillas of the paramilitaries, reason why it is tried to recover and to support the rural areas affected. It is also worth noting that women play an important role since they are in charge of harvesting and preparing fish.