Mount Lucas Circular Bioeconomy Aquaculture Initiative
(Circular-IMTA Demo) Project
Funding Statement:
The CIRCULAR-IMTA-DEMO Project is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the EU Just Transition Fund Programme 2021-2027.
Project Scope:
CIRCULAR_IMTA_DEMO is an ambitious commercially-focused, interdisciplinary bioeconomy demonstration project that harnesses the use of a novel recirculating, peatland-based, integrated multi-trophic aquaculture/aquatech (IMTA) site at Mount Lucas in Co. Offaly. It will demonstrate value-chain products for new feeds/foods from cultivated-duckweed and macroalgae at scale that use fish-culture waste-streams.
This TUS led CIRCULAR_IMTA_DEMO project focuses on integrated sustainable economic development by demonstrating production of commercial products (TRL 6+) using a holistic multi-actor approach for development of the Midlands Just Transition territory. This unique Midlands-located demonstration project will deploy digital tools for monitoring/managing optimal performance and digital twin/immersive extended reality (XR) training, unlocking new sustainable and climate-resilient pathways for vital economic development. This brings together key stakeholders (industry, primary producers, policymakers, local communities, academia) generating new products and jobs.
CIRCULAR_IMTA_DEMO exploits cascades from fish waste streams as biofertilizers to cultivate macroalgae and duckweed, where commercial products will be biorefined/valorised for feeds and foods using this commercial demo-circular-model; thus, enabling piloting, scaling and cooperation that addresses barriers and unlocks opportunities through cooperative activities.
CIRCULAR_IMTA_DEMO is embedded strongly in an educational provision, particularly training of stakeholders on-site/accelerators. CIRCULAR_IMTA_DEMO will;
(a) Accelerate the innovation process and commercial development of bio-based products that focuses on testing/upscaling novel approaches for converting bio-based duckweed and macroalgae feedstock into technical and economically viable (sustainable) circular solutions.
(b) Develop appropriate innovation life cycles/plans tapping into extensive networks/clusters to optimise industry and primary-producer engagement to test tech and produce bio-based products at commercial scale.
(c) Monitor environmental and climate performance at this IMTA site for value chains. In-situ pilot demonstration for commercial production of high value feed and food products for different animal use including on-site hatchery/feed production delivering appropriate implementation, exploitation and communication plan serving needs of stakeholders. Feedstocks for bio-based operations respect local ecological limits and protects biodiversity/ecosystems-services.
CIRCULAR_IMTA_DEMO addresses appropriate cooperation to align natural capital, primary-production and circular-bioeconomy value-chains for optimal-impact.
Grant Number: 2023JTF165
Duration: 1st October 2024 – 30th September 2029
Funding: €4,908,710.49
Project Objectives:
- Development and deployment of competitive, territorial, circular and inclusive bio-based business models in agri/food industry using peatland based IMTA site at Mount Lucas in Midlands Just Transition territory that harnesses all segments of the value chain using an integrated multi-actor framework.
- Demonstrative improved circularity and resource efficiency of high value agri-based resources via practical commercial technologies at IMTA site at Mount Lucas matched with climate neutral, zero waste principles.
- Contribute to reduced dependency of imported feedstocks and products through development of new production methods enabled by innovative breakthrough approaches.
- Improve and demonstrate social acceptance of circular bio-based solutions and products using appropriate business models using duckweed and macroalgae feedstock and interlinked cascades informed by digital technologies.
- Improve industrial competitiveness through developing new high-value products and innovation at scale, introducing marketing and organisation innovation, strategic autonomy and resource independence of bio-based value chains in JT territory.
- Increase resource efficiency by promoting cooperation of companies of different scales and other actors (RPO’s, policymakers, local communities, public/private investors) to move towards zero-waste, zero-pollution operations.
- Provide agile framework to inform and support companies and entrepreneurs in the development and de-risking of new technologies (green) and products.
- Develop materials and energy efficient processing and recirculation of flows towards a fully circular model with focus on agri/aquaculture carbon-rich waste streams, within industrial demonstration and extended production sites.
- Develop new skilled job opportunities and investments in the bio-based sectors in this Just Transition territory including development of capacities.
- Develop industry and primary producer network/ecosystem promoting optimised use and commercialisation of IMTA site.
