AQUA-COMBINE

Integrated on-farm Aquaponics systems for co-production of fish, halophyte vegetables, bioactive compounds and bioenergy

Project team: Io Antonopoulou, Anthony Ike Anukam, Paul Christakopoulos, Leonidas Matsakas, Maxwell Moncao, Ulrika Rova, Tobias Wretborn

Duration: 2019-2023

Project link: https://www.aquacombine.eu External link, opens in new window.

Funded by EU HORIZON 2020

AQUA-COMBINE aims to demonstrate an integrated aquaculture and halophyte farming within a circular economy framework, leveraging waste and residues to generate internal value and novel products. Nutrient surplus from fish farming will serve as fertilizer for halophyte plants, subsequently filtered through a microbial water treatment system for water recirculation in the aquaculture tanks (Recirculating Aquaculture System).

Halophyte species like Salicornia ramosissima thrive in saline environments or can be irrigated with seawater. Salicornia's edible green tips are commercially traded, while its woody residues

are often overlooked. Yet, these residues are rich in bioactive compounds, including hydroxycinnamic acids, high-quality proteins, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, carotenoids, and chlorophyll, accessible through cost-effective extraction methods. The remaining fiber fraction post-extraction comprises easily degradable lignocellulose, suitable for bioenergy production with low energy input or separated into high-value xylooligosaccharides (prebiotics) and lignin-derived charcoal. This collaborative effort involves 17 partners across 6 European nations, coordinated by the University of Aalborg.