The Circular IMTA-DEMO is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the EU Just Transition Fund Programme 2021–2027. Grant Number 2023JTF165.

Project Tasks

Project Tasks
T1 – Development of peatlands circular aquaculture system underpinning bioeconomy commercial demonstrator site.

Organisation: Technological University of the Shannon

WP Leader: Dr. Emer O’Neill – emer.oneill@tus.ie

Objectives:

  • Develop, model and manage a unique, peatlands integrated multitrophic aquaculture (IMTA) site at Mount Lucas farm supporting linked commercial bioeconomy activities.
  • Monitor and characterise fish waste stream to optimise production of ammonia and phosphate as natural biofertilisers supporting demonstration of on-site high-value bio-products.
  • Develop and apply appropriate environmental, ecological and climate modelling tools beyond LCA to assess impacts (if any) on this IMTA system of nutrient recovery, feedstock and quality of aquaculture pond waste stream.
  • Establish, operate and manage technologies and innovations that cross-cuts on nexus between site living labs and field analysis to pilot production of commercial products.
  • Characterise and define role of commercial fish production and relationship with microalgal / bacterial biome in ponds on waste stream composition, cascades and circular products.
  • Ensure appropriate transfer of knowledge from foundational DAFM 2022 BioMDJT bioeconomy blueprint scoping project for stakeholder engagement and optimal site usage.

T2 – Mount Lucas digitalisation for remote ensuing for optimal performance of IMTA system for waste stream and production of new products.

Organisation: University of Galway

WP Leader: Prof. Eoghan Clifford – eoghan.clifford@universityofgalway.ie

Objectives:

  • Monitor farm water parameters via remote sensing for optimal performance of IMTA system for waste stream and production of new products.
  • Assess plant growth using unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with computer vision.
  • Modelling of farm parameters for productivity prediction including open portal data.

T3 – Use of freshwater macroalgae for nutrient recycling and biomass production in Mount Lucas IMTA demonstration site.

Organisation: Indigo Rock Marine Research Centre

WP Leader: Dr. Julie Maguire - jmaguire@indigorock.ie

Objectives:

  • Select elite species for nutrient removal of fish pond effluent.
  • Production of a macroalgae recycling system prototype in Mount Lucas.
  • Investigation of the biomass use potential of freshwater macroalgae.

T4 – Duckweed for sustainable valorisation of aquaculture wastewater.

Organisation: University College Cork

WP Leader: Prof. Marcel Jansen - M.Jansen@ucc.ie

Objectives:

  • Optimise duckweed cultivation on aquaculture wastewater under semi-commercial, outdoor conditions.
  • Develop a dedicated series of duckweed outreach activities to promote duckweed as a sustainable, native protein cash-crop for Ireland.

T5 – Conversion systems and biorefinery.

Organisation: Teagasc

WP Leader: Prof. Brijesh Tiwari - Brijesh.Tiwari@teagasc.ie

Objectives:

  • Develop standard operating procedures for logistics and strategies for the creation of value chains for macroalgae and duckweed biomass.
  • Develop cleaning and pre-treatment primary procedures for cultivated macroalgae and duckweed for quality and degradation.
  • Develop energy-efficient pre-treatment systems for stabilisation of biomass.
  • Develop robust fractionation system for value-added product and ingredients by employing state-of-the-art technologies.
  • Characterise biomass and ingredients obtained from biorefinery of biomass.

T6 – Value chain and shaping appropriate knowledge transfer for new products, services and solutions.

Organisation: Technological University of the Shannon

WP Leader: Dr. Gillian Barry - Gillian.Barry@tus.ie

Objectives:

  • Create and execute Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) and Life Cycle Costing Analysis on high value chain case studies from IMTA commercial process for food and feeds.
  • Conduct economic evaluation of value chains (ingredients, products).
  • Design novel bio-based chain and inter-relationships (multi-actor quadruple helix hub).
  • Embrace and support key stakeholders across newly established value chains and engage marginalised communities in the Midlands Just Transition territory to broaden innovation ecosystems for job creation.
  • Develop tailored innovative business models and plans along a sound ‘go to market’ for the CIRCULAR-IMTA-DEMO ecosystem across the Just Transition territory.

T7 – Engaging and enabling industry and primary producers at Mount Lucas IMTA site.

Organisation: Technological University of the Shannon

WP Leader: Aine O'Donnell - Aine.ODonnell@tus.ie

Objectives:

  • Implement agile structured action plan for engaging and enabling industry and primary producers in demonstrating new innovation at the IMTA site for commercialisation.
  • Support companies in on-site specialist training and business case development.
  • Conduct transregional modelling for established and emerging customer-focused industries and primary producers (end-users) across networks for tailored user needs.
  • Establish Mount Lucas as ‘best in class’ for demonstrating aquaculture, aquatech, bio-based and digital technologies using the beyond-state-of-the-art peatland IMTA site.
  • Harness Industry Liaison Group along with an expert Oversight Committee for fostering collaborations and appropriate development and management of the IMTA site.

T8 – Project management, implementation, demonstration and communication.

Organisation: Technological University of the Shannon

WP Leader: Prof. Neil Rowan – Neil.Rowan@tus.ie

Objectives:

  • Management, administrative and financial control of the project along with oversight of different work packages, and organisation of meetings.
  • Execute an effective and appropriate dissemination, exploitation and communication plan.
  • Risk mitigation specific to project management and demonstration of innovation for broad stakeholders in the Midlands Just Transition territory.