Recent developments in genomics have advanced innovation in European aquaculture. However, despite the creation of reference quality genome sequences for the main species, our understanding of genome functions remains limited. AQUA-FAANG will deliver a step improvement in understanding of genome function and exploitation of genotype-to-phenotype prediction in the six most important European farmed fish species. The project brings together world-leading interdisciplinary expertise and industry partners providing direct pathways to commercial exploitation. AQUA-FAANG will functionally annotate the genomes of all six species, employing standardized experimental assays and analysis pipelines defined by the FAANG initiative. AQUA-FAANG datasets will be shared and coordinated with other FAANG initiatives via the FAANG data coordination centre, and made available through the Ensembl genome browser. As infectious disease is of paramount concern for sustainable aquaculture, the project focuses on understanding functional genomic regions in both healthy and immune-challenged fish. This will improve knowledge of the genomic basis for disease resistance and is complemented by novel approaches to increase understanding of immune cell heterogeneity. Standardized comparative analyses will provide essential insights into genome functions that cannot be gained from study of single species. Functional assays will be used to study intermediate phenotypes and prioritise causative genetic variants in trait-associated genomic regions to accelerate selection of disease-resistant stocks. Functionally-enriched marker panels will be developed to improve accuracy of genomic selection. An active programme of stakeholder engagement and dissemination will ensure uptake of project outputs by industry, academia, the public and in policy. The outputs will enhance precision breeding, drive competitiveness within the aquaculture sector, and enhance food and nutrition security in Europe.

The overall objective of FutureEUAqua is to effectively promote sustainable growth of resilient to climate changes, environmental friendly organic and conventional aquaculture of major fish species and low trophic level organisms in Europe, to meet future challenges with respect to the growing consumer demand for high quality, nutritious and responsibly produced food. To this end, FutureEUAqua will promote innovations in the whole value chain, including genetic selection, ingredients and feeds, non-invasive monitoring technologies, innovative fish products and packaging methods, optimal production systems such as IMTA and RAS, taking into account socioeconomic considerations by the participation of a wide spectrum of stakeholders, training and dissemination activities. To achieve the objective and to relate to the work program, nine work-packages will contribute to improvements of future aquaculture. To ensure sustainable and resilient production of fish in the future we will work with tailor made fish and feed (WP1 and WP2), and validate fish performance and water quality in cost-effective production systems (WP4). Consumer demand and awareness of how to choose sustainable and climate friendly seafood is part of WP3. With the increasing production of seafood, we face space-conflicts, which, in combination with the current regulatory frameworks will be considered (WP3). Wireless sensor technology (WP5) for health and welfare monitoring and novel technology for product quality and packaging (WP6) to meet future demands, will be implemented. Stakeholders' knowledge and views will be important, and communication, dissemination (WP8) as well as training sessions (WP7) will be emphasized

Legumes Translated supports innovation in grain legume-supported cropping systems and value-chains by linking sources and users of quality-assured knowledge using rigorous knowledge synthesis and compilation. Knowledge is compiled at two levels: at the level of Actor Groups’ specific farming system and value chain activities, and in seven technical areas of agricultural sector and value-chain transition (Transition Networks). The project addresses an urgent need and cross-sector challenges by building on technical opportunities. The urgent need is due to the imbalance in cropping systems now dominated by cereal crops with adverse agronomic and environmental effects. The cross-sector challenge arises from the growing demand for alternative sources of plant protein, growing consumer interest in the environmental impact and resource efficiency of value chains, growing demand for GMO-free value chains and grain legume-based foods. The technical opportunity arises from the range of innovation groups in Europe that are now translating relevant knowledge at a local and regional level. Our consortium comprises an existing innovation community represented by 15 Actor Groups with research-based knowledge, value-chain actors’ knowledge and insights from the pre-farm side of the value chain right through to retailing, including the supporting and regulating functions such as policy development. The project uses a co-learning framework to validate the knowledge compiled within Actor Groups and between Actor Groups within the seven Transition Networks. In addition to direct interaction between partners, an extensive range of primary communications provided in an internet-based knowledge platform (The Legume Hub) will have a lasting character documenting the work. Secondary communications will target specific groups along value chains using a wide range of media. The project includes work for impact beyond the project time-frame.

ICHTHYS (OptImization of novel value CHains for fish and seafood by developing an integraTed sustainable approacH for improved qualitY, safety and waSte reduction) will optimize novel value-chains for fish and seafood products for the EU and international markets. It will develop an integrated sustainable approach to improve quality and safety, while reducing product loss in the whole supply chain. ICHTHYS is intersectorial and focuses on two essential parts of the value chain, postharvest processing and packaging, integrating novel modern techniques and molecular biology tools in the evaluation of the quality and safety of fish and shellfish, including their allergenic capacity. The proposal has 13 consortium members from 6 countries that have complementary expertise in food, aquaculture and postharvest processing. New nonthermal processing methods such as high pressure, pulsed electric fields and high-intensity pulsed light will be studied together with active and intelligent packaging and smart labels (Time Temperature Integrators) and biosensors for monitoring safety and shelf life enriched with novel data from "omics" analysis. The implementation of ICHTHYS will offer the industrial partners the opportunity to translate scientific research into well-defined knowledge-based end products and analytical tools. In addition, to the scientific objectives ICHTHYS will provide a platform for efficient dissemination and transfer of knowledge and technology through training and research with complementary measures to engage other stakeholders including citizens. Overall, ICHTHYS aspires to provide cross-cutting intersectorial and interdisciplinary knowledge exchange and training for academics and commercial partners to improve their employability and career prospects. The project will contribute to the knowledge-based economy and society and boost regional and European competitiveness and growth, food exports and job creation.

The Sentinel missions and Copernicus Services provide a global view of environmental parameters of prime importance for climate and environmental research. The accuracy and high spatial resolution of the data play a crucial role in representing physical, chemical and biological processes. Models can develop precise parametrisations of these processes and of their complex interactions. HiSea, combing measurements and models, has an enormous potential to improve the understanding of the coastal environment. HiSea services will deliver information, readily available and with high resolution to fit seamlessly user‘s operation and management requirements. HiSea will provide a co-designed service that offers high resolution water quality data at sea answering to specific questions from the targeted port and the aquaculture sectors. HiSea will develop, in operational mode, novel Copernicus-based downstream services that will incorporate Copernicus Marine, Land and Climate Services Products, local monitoring data, and advanced modelling in the service integrated representing an added value for the potential Copernicus data users. The downstream service includes among others early warning alerts, alarms to potential risks for the daily activities; real time crisis management to simulate mitigation actions to adverse effects; automatic reporting on the key performance indicators; standard datasets; and building knowledge data base of cause-effect relations (business intelligence). From the data storage to the processing using Docker containers, the HiSea platform will be fully compliant to cloud deployment, prepared to DIAS infrastructure. The immediate market uptake of the HiSea services by the targeted ports and aquaculture users is guaranteed. Linking to the market and experience of the partners to deliver similar services, HiSea has the capability to demonstrate the proposed services at regional or even global scale.