Reflecting on the Success of ASTRAL AGM and Aquaculture Europe 2023
ASTRAL AGM 2023, Vienna, Austria
The curtains closed on the ASTRAL Annual General Meeting of 2023, marking the end of a significant year for this thriving project. The event was held on Monday 18th September in the Radisson Red, Vienna, prior to the highly anticipated Aquaculture Europe 2023. The ASTRAL AGM is a pivotal moment in our project’s calendar, a time when the consortium collectively reflects on the accomplishments and challenges of the past year and charts a course for the future.
Aquaculture Europe 2023 took place from 19th - 21st of September, leaving participants with a drive to develop innovative, novel solutions to aquaculture challenges and a renewed sense of hope for the future. Hosted in the bustling metropolis of Vienna, Austria the conference brought together industry experts, researchers, policymakers, and aquaculture enthusiasts from around the globe to discuss innovative approaches, share knowledge, and forge partnerships.
Throughout the event, visitors had the opportunity to attend a wide array of informative sessions and workshops. Topics ranged from the latest advancements in aquaculture technology to best practices in environmental sustainability and resource management.
One of the hallmark features of the conference was the Trade Show. Hundreds of Exhibitors displayed their products and services whilst networking with fellow attendees. ASTRAL and AquaVitae shared a joint booth over the 3 days with a primary focus of showcasing activities to foster Low Trophic Aquaculture and integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture.
The much anticipated seminar hosted by ASTRAL and AquaVitae project Consortiums, "Barriers and Opportunities to the development of Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) and Low Trophic Aquaculture (LTA): Experiences from European Projects" took place on Thursday 21st September. Over 70 attendees were present on the day. The session was led by Chief Scientist at NORCE Norwegian Research Centre and ASTRAL Coordinator, Elisa Ravagnan and Senior Scientist at Nofima and AquaVitae Project Coordinator, Philip James. A panel of talented guests were invited to facilitate general discussions and answer audience questions.
Panellists focused on 3 areas of discussion:
Challenges and opportunities of governance in the EU: Creating inclusive legislative and regulatory frameworks.
Developing markets, re-thinking business models and financial instruments for socio-economic sustainability: Building a competitive and resilient IMTA/LTA sector.
Recognising environmental performance and fostering IMTA/LTAs contribution to the green deal: developing a sustainable aquaculture sector whilst respecting nature.
Lissy Smit, CEO of Aqua-Spark delivered the final plenary address. She underscored the real challenges and opportunities in aquaculture and the role capital can play to develop the perfect food system for the future.
Ultimately, Aquaculture Europe 2023 was a huge success. We were happy to have showcased the ASTRAL Project to all those who attended!
