The goals and challenges of the I-AM_Smart Aquaponics project will be presented on Thursday, June 6 and Friday June 7, 2024, at the Ecotekne University Campus.
The event will be attended by all the Partners contributing to the improvement of technology in aquaponics to address social and economic challenges related to food production.
The project SA-0100133 I-AM_Smart Aquaponics, co-funded by the European Union through the Interreg VI-A - IPA CBC South Adriatic program, aims to support smart aquaculture initiatives in Italy, Albania, and Montenegro. The project will develop a joint aquaponics agenda to support sustainable aquaponics small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the program area. It will leverage the expertise of five partner organizations operating in Puglia, Molise, Albania, and Montenegro: Dhitech Technological District, LUM “Giuseppe Degennaro” University, Local Action Group of Fisheries “Molise Costiero”, Albanian Center for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development and Diocese of Budimlje and Nikšić of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
These companies currently face a dual challenge: despite technological advances, they struggle with social and economic barriers that hinder their growth. The lack of comprehensive solutions makes them unable to exploit the full potential of aquaponics technology, limiting its profitability and impact on food security and environmental sustainability.
The I-AM_Smart Aquaponics project aims to provide tailored strategies, methodologies, and technological solutions to exploit regional and national opportunities, enabling aquaponics SMEs to reach their full potential.
The goal is to create the conditions for sustainable food production to be not just a necessity, but a thriving reality. Through innovation, cooperation, and continued commitment, aquaponics can address the challenges of food security and the environment, nourishing our bodies, and our planet, and inspiring generations to come.
On Thursday, June 6, at 9:30 am, at CNR-Nanotec in the University Campus Ecotekne (via Monteroni 165, Lecce), after the registration of guests and a welcome coffee, institutional greetings will start by Dhitech and Representatives of Province of Lecce and mail sector Associations.
This will be followed by a first session with the presentation of the five project partners: Dhitech Technological District, LUM “Giuseppe Degennaro” University, Local Action Group of Fisheries “Molise Costiero”, Albanian Center for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development and Diocese of Budimlje and Nikšić of the Serbian Orthodox Church. The session will conclude with a speech by Dr. Federica Stella Blasi (University of Salento) about the project “ISEPA ‐ Improving Sustainability, Efficiency and Profitability of Large‐Scale Aquaponics”, funded by POR Puglia FESR‐FSE 2014‐2020 - Action 1.6 - Call "Innonetwork" from which everything started.
After the lunch break, the seminar will resume with the second session that will be focused on technological, economic, environmental, and social challenges of aquaponics, illustrated by Prof. Rigers Bakiu (Agricultural University of Tirana), Dr. Licino Corbari (University of Salento), Dr. Marta Sozzo (University of Salento), and Igor Samardzić (Diocese of Budimlje and Nikšić of the Serbian Orthodox Church). In closing, Antonio De Leo (Aqua Farm Srl) will illustrate his company's successful case.
On Friday, June 7, after the meeting at 10 a.m. at the “Aldo Romano” building – Campus Ecotekne, guests will visit the aquaponics system developed within the ISEPA Project and located at the “La Stecca” building. The visit will provide an opportunity to show to SMEs from Puglia, Molise, Albania, and Montenegro an operational aquaponics pilot plant, including the digital solutions and the biotech innovations developed within the project ISEPA.