Smart integrated multitrophic city food production systems – a water and energy saving approach for global urbanisation

CITYFOOD

Call

Project Website

Principal Investigator

Prof. Werner Kloas and Dr. Daniela Baganz, Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Germany

Partners

Ing. Toni Heindorf, SRP Gesellschaft für Stadt- und Regionalplanung mbH, Germany Dr. Maria Celia Portella, UNESP - Universidade Estadual Paulista 'Julio de mesquita Filho', Brazil Daniela Baganz, Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V., Institut für Gewässerökologie und Binnenfischerei, Germany Dr. Karel Keesman, Wageningen University - Agrotechnology and Food Sciences, Netherlands Siv Lene Skar, Norwegian Institute for Bioeconomy Research, Norway Dr. Alyssa Joyce, University of Gothenburg - Department of Marine Science, Sweden Prof. Gundula Proksch, University of Washington - College of Built Environments, United States

Funders

Project Objective

The project CITYFOOD aims to explore the potential of IAAC (Integrating Aqua-Agri Culture)systems for urban applications in context of Food-Water-Energy Nexus challenge. Feeding rapidly growing urban populations, requires innovative solutions that ensure efficient water, energy, and nutrients management. The project CITYFOOD investigates quasi-closed loop integrated aqua-agriculture systems to address this global challenge. IAAC systems produce fish and plants, while re-using the wastewater from the fish production as a nutrient fertiliser in nearly emission-free facilities. This nearly zero-waste clean food production method, has already been realized in a range of cites worldwide. However, it is still a niche market with stand-alone facilities of varying size, and configuration often lacking production stability and economic profitability. CITYFOOD will develop strategies to further popularity and application of this space, and resource friendly food production system in urban areas. The multidisciplinary project team involves city planners, urban farmers, scientists, entrepreneurs, community leaders, and engaged citizen to reach its goals. The expected results of the project will be beneficial to scientists, politicians, city planners, decision-makers, manufacturers, producers and consumers looking for local, sustainably produced food products. The results from modelling, urban planning and the Living Labs will be compiled into the CITYFOOD innovation concept providing optima lIAAC solutions. The project CITYFOOD contributes building a sustainable infrastructure in cities. The Project work establishes an aquaponics knowledge base for assessments of existing knowledge and concept refinement. Further, we look at urban planning and FWE (food-water energy) interactions and have defined important key indicators and success criteria to evaluate urban food supply.

Call Objective

The Sustainable Urbanisation Global Initiative (SUGI)/Food-Water-Energy Nexus is a joint call established in order to bring together actors to find innovative new solutions to the Food-Water-Energy Nexus challenge. The ultimate goal is to increase the access and the quality of life.

Region

Country

Duration

49 months

Call Date

2016-12-09

Project Award Date

2018-02-15