It's called AWARE (Aquaponics from WAstewater REclamation) and it's a European research project that aims to build the first farm in Europe that uses wastewater treated in an aquaponic system for the integrated production of fish and vegetables. More than 20 partners from 8 countries are involved and the project is funded by the Horizon Europe research and innovation programme.

The Centre for Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry (CBQF), of the Faculty of Biotechnology (ESB), of the Universidade Católica in Porto, is part of the project consortium, which started in November 2022 and which aims to implement the concept of circular economy, with the water as a central theme.

It is intended to increase the capacity for local municipalities to implement freshwater aquaculture systems, without impact on natural habitats, without dependence on the natural availability of freshwater and with high resilience to climate change.

Celebrated annually on March 22 at the initiative of the United Nations, the World Water Day promotes awareness of the importance of water for the survival of the planet. AWARE reinforces and contributes to this mission, participating in the construction of a more sustainable management of this resource.
 

“It seems that we are talking about a fiction film, but we want it to be reality!"

AWARE is an international, interdisciplinary effort that combines engineering, biotechnology, food safety and nutrition assessment, and consumer science. There is already a pilot project installed in the city of Castellana Grotte, in Italy, and it is expected that the results will be produced by 2026.

Célia Manaia, researcher and responsible for CBQF's participation in the project, states that “AWARE is a visionary project in which wastewater treatment plants with highly sophisticated treatment processes give life to fish and vegetables for human consumption. It seems that we are talking about a fiction film, but we want it to be reality!”

The project represents an opportunity to accelerate a significant and necessary shift in support of European aquaculture.