INNOWWIDE AquaSuRe: Improving resilience and sustainability of small aquaculture farmers

Aquaculture is the fastest growing food production system
La acuicultura es el sistema de producción de alimentos de más rápido crecimiento
FAO foresees 33% increase of fish consumption by 2030 in CELAC
Affordable water filtration system for solid waste disposal
Aquaculture is currently the fastest growing food production systems globally, complementing and even replacing traditional fisheries to fulfil the annual per capita fish demand that has increased ten times in the past 2 decades. FAO foresees 33% increase of fish consumption by 2030 in Latin America and Caribbean. The intensive production systems are challenged by environmental, economic and social concerns, and therefore it is essential that unsustainable practices are avoided.
Innovations are mainly developed for large producers and hardly reach small medium farmers due to limitations in investments, though they represent 96% of fish farmers globally, making them less competitive and likely to comply with environmental regulations and prone to economic losses due to severe extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change.
In this context, Bioazul will co-develop together with ASTRUCEL, an association of 28 small and medium producers located in the La Cecilia village (Cauca Valley, Colombia), an affordable water filtration system for the removal of solid waste in the fish ponds, and tailor-made for inland small to medium sized rainbow trout farmers operating in open flow systems continuously.
AquaSure® system will be the result of the project which aims to demonstrate a small-scale proof of concept unit, and to finally deliver a system that solves the filtration needs of small-medium farmers.
AquaSure® is conceptually based on Filtration Drums, and will be modular to reduce initial CAPEX, linking the system with production capacity, and reduce OPEX by working in a self-adaptative mode. It will allow farmers acquiring the technology in line with their investment capacity and production requirements.
Objectives
– To open opportunities for Bioazul in international markets, focused in Colombian in a first stage, with the water filtration system AquaSure ®.
– To increase the conversion rate of feed to fish biomass by 10 %, and consequently farmers profitability and sustainability.
– To reduce aquaculture environmental impact by removing solid waste usually discharged to water bodies and reduce water usage by small-medium farmers.
– To support the growth of local economies and job creation in rural areas.
– To empower women as the main workers in post-harvest and processing activities, representing 60-80% of the workforce.
– To increase food security and availability of fish protein for human consumption.
Project data

- Status: Ongoing
- Funding programme: INNOWWIDE
- Contract No.: 822273
- Duration: 1st October 2020 – 31st March 2021 (6 months)
- Budget: €86,000 (INNOWWIDE funding: €60,000

