TransFarm project team gathered to Norrtälje for Aquaponic demos

TransFarm (Transborder cooperation for circular soilless farming systems) project aims to foster the spread and adoption of closed circular soilless farming methods, such as Aquaponics. It is a farming method where fish and vegetables are grown in closed circular symbiosis to reduce the usage of fresh water and the wasting of valuable nutrients. On January 23^rd to 25^th the TransFarm project team gathered to Norrtälje Sweden to meet and see what kind of Aquaponic systems there exists in Sweden.

During those three days, the project team enjoyed interesting presentations about current progress of each partners work, exciting visits to local Aquaponic systems and finally an open seminar for people interested in Aquaponics. One of the most interesting places to visit was the Aquaponic farm of Johannas Stadsodlingar in Norra Vallentuna, where they grow generous green vegetables, as shown in following photo. Nutrients for these plants are produced by a small school of rainbow trout living in the barrels visible in back of the room.

TransFarm project team had indeed a very nice face-to-face event at Campus Roslagen in Norrtälje Sweden for reaching closer collaboration inside of the project consortium. Big thanks for organizing the event goes to Donatella Acquaviva, Project Leader at Campus Roslagen and its Utvecklingscentrum för Vatten UCV. It was very interesting and useful for all partners to meet and have discussions about the relevant topics of the TransFarm project. Changing ideas generated lots of new energy for the project team and also for the farmers whose Aquaponic farms we visited. Another great place to visit was Berga Naturbruksgymnasiet where Björn Oliviusson is farming bananas and papayas in his Aquaponic greenhouse system.

The TransFarm project will continue developing the Aquaponic demos each project partner is building in Estonia, in Latvia and in Sweden. In addition, interesting publications handling Aquaponic farming will be published soon on the web space of TransFarm project on www.centralbaltic.eu/transfarm

TransFarm project is implemented by a consortium which is coordinated by Finland Futures Research Centre at University of Turku. Other project partners are Campus Roslagen and Coompanion Roslagen & Norrort (Norrtälje), University of Latvia (Riga) and Estonian University of Life Science (Tarto). Project duration is three years starting from March 2023 and the overall budget is 1,87 million euro, of which EU financing covers 1,5 million euro. TransFarm project is funded by EUs Interreg Central Baltic programme. For more information:

Project Specialist Veijo Pönni

FFRC/UTU

veijo.ponni@utu.fi +358 50 542 6747