June 6, 2023

Sustainable waste treatment in aquaculture project receives US$6.7 million grant

The Terraforming LIFE project in Iceland, which aims to revolutionise waste management and value creation in land-based aquaculture systems, has been awarded a EUR 6.3 million (~US$6.7 million; EUR 1 = US$1.07) grant from the Environment and Climate Program of the European Union (LIFE), The Fish Site reported.

The project consortium, consisting of Landeldi (Iceland's Farmers' Association), Orkidea, Olfus Cluster, SMJ from the Faroe Islands, and associates Blue Ocean Technology from Norway, will focus on developing innovative methods to process various waste materials from aquaculture and agriculture.

These materials include fish sludge, dead fish, sludge from organic waste, and agricultural by-products. The ultimate goal is to transform these waste streams into valuable resources such as high-quality energy, fertiliser, and biochar.

This four-year initiative commenced on June 1.

A key aspect of the project is the utilisation of sludge treatment and pyrolysis technology provided by Blue Ocean Technology. This approach enables the production of biogas while facilitating efficient carbon capture.

By implementing this system, the Terraforming LIFE project aims to bolster Iceland's circular economy in domestic food production, significantly reduce the carbon footprint, and promote a more positive environmental impact in both agriculture and aquaculture. Blue Ocean Technology said that pyrolysis is currently the only established and recognised method for achieving a carbon-negative effect.

Project coordinator Runar Thor Thorarinsson, representing Landeldi, said that the products will benefit the Icelandic cycle system and improve the environmental impact of aquaculture by producing not only fertiliser for agricultural production but also carbon-neutral fuel, electricity, and heat.

Gunnar Torgeirsson, chairman of Iceland's Farmers' Association, said that one of the major challenges faced by farmers in recent years has been the soaring cost of fertilisers. This project aims to address that issue by increasing the availability of domestic fertilisers.