Aware - Aquaponics from Wastewater Reclamation
A pioneering EU project transforming treated wastewater into safe, circular food production through aquaponics, boosting sustainability, innovation, and community empowerment.
A pioneering EU project transforming treated wastewater into safe, circular food production through aquaponics, boosting sustainability, innovation, and community empowerment.
AWARE is a European project focused on creating a new farm‑to‑fork value chain for sustainable aquaculture and urban farming. It addresses the long‑standing stagnation of European freshwater aquaculture, which has suffered from limited innovation, low species diversity, seasonal constraints, regulatory barriers, and weak economic returns.
The project develops integrated systems that combine aquaculture, urban agriculture, and advanced water management, including the reuse of treated wastewater. Through pilot sites, research activities, and stakeholder engagement, AWARE aims to demonstrate more resilient, resource‑efficient, and environmentally responsible models for producing fish and vegetables in urban and peri‑urban contexts.
By promoting innovation, circular water use, and reduced pressure on wild fish stocks, AWARE contributes to a more sustainable and diversified European food system.
AWARE is a groundbreaking European project that redefines the relationship between water, food, and community resilience through an innovative integration of aquaponics within a municipal wastewater treatment plant. Supported by a consortium of 20 partners across eight countries, the project leverages cutting-edge technologies—including biofilters, RAS systems, renewable energy, IoT sensors, blockchain, and AI—to produce safe, high-quality food while reducing environmental pressures and closing the water–nutrient–food loop.
The initiative delivers measurable economic, environmental, and social benefits. It generates new opportunities for green jobs, strengthens local economies in low-specialization areas, and supports the growth of a circular agrifood sector. Its scientific output includes eight open-access publications, the development of a novel biofilter, and a provisional patent. The project demonstrates the potential to save 24 million liters of freshwater annually and drastically reduce nutrient pollution, offering a replicable and scalable model for Mediterranean and European regions.
Beyond technology, AWARE invests in people: it trains 12 early-stage professionals, engages schools and citizens through workshops and public events, and builds long-lasting coalitions between institutions, farmers, communities, and policymakers. Through strong governance practices and transparent communication, the project increases public trust in the safe reuse of treated wastewater and fosters a cultural shift toward circular resource management. Ultimately, AWARE lays the foundation for future generations, promoting sustainable water use, local food sovereignty, and inclusive green innovation across Europe.
Economic Performances
• Funds for R&I • IoT, automation, blockchain technologies • Involvement of 12 young professionals • Local institutional and academic support
• Construction of aquaponic plant • Start of fish/vegetable production • Local training and bootcamp for digital skills
• Aquaponic plant completed • 180 kg of fish, 600 kg of vegetables, 60 kg of protein per year • 12 young people involved in training and operational activities
• Creation of qualified work in a low-skilled context • New digital and technical• scientific skills in the community • Start of a previously non-existent sector • Possibility of replication and growth with potential scalability
• Structural change possible in the long term with replicability • Diversification of the local agricultural economy • Strengthening of the economic and circular resilience of the territory • Castellana Grotte becomes a reference center for training and innovation in aquaponics
Ecosystem integrity
• Existing infrastructure (wastewater treatment plant) • Investments in aquaponics technology and biofilters • Technical and scientific staff • Access to know-how and institutional support (research, EU)
• Construction of the first European aquaponic system in a purification plant • Research, development and scientific publication • Installation and testing of the biofilter • Production and monitoring of fish and vegetables • Use of renewable energy where possible
• Operational aquaponic system • 8 open access scientific publications • Advancement in biofilter technology • Expected production: 180 kg of fish, 600 kg of vegetables, 60 kg of protein per year • 24 mln liters of water saved per year
• Strengthening the sustainable agri-food sector • Creation of new replicable circular production models • Activation of short and local supply chains • Access to safe and nutritious food • Innovation transferable to other regions
• Potential replicability in Mediterranean areas and global communities • Significant reduction in freshwater withdrawal and nutrient pollution • Strengthening local economic resilience and sustainable food systems • Stimulating green• tech and inclusive employment
Reducing emissions
• Financial resources for R&D and plant construction • Specialized technical and scientific personnel • Public infrastructures (wastewater treatment plant) • Technologies for aquaponic systems and biofilters
• Design and construction of the aquaponic system • Biofilter development • Publication of results • Patent filing
• First European aquaponic plant integrated into a wastewater treatment plant • 8 open access publications • 1 provisional patent • Technological advancement in biological filtration
• New models of circular urban food production • Greater attractiveness for sustainable investments • Local job opportunities in green tech
• Possible transformation of public facilities into "food hubs" • Stimulation of resilient and circular local economies • Potential structural decarbonization of urban food supply chains • Scalability and replicability at urban and international level
CO2 CAPTURED
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Waste Management
• Public and/or private funding for construction and research • Aquaponics experts, environmental engineers, food technologists • Existing infrastructure (wastewater treatment plant) • Biofilter technologies, UV treatment, RAS • Institutional and regulatory support (e.g. EU nutrient framework)
• Design and implementation of the integrated aquaponic system • Development and application of the biofilter • Wastewater and nutrient quality monitoring • Optimization of water and nutrient recovery
• First European aquaponic plant in a wastewater treatment plant • Recovery and reuse of water and nutrients • Almost total absence of solid and liquid waste output • Direct industrial application of the developed technology
• Sustainable management of 80–90% of waste compared to the baseline scenario • High efficiency in nitrogen and phosphorus recovery • Practical demonstration of a closed cycle water-nutrients-food • Decrease in environmental pressure from plants
• Creation of a new circular economy cycle in the water• food nexus • Potential replicability in many European cities • Structural reduction of nutrient pollution at regional level • Contribution to the EU strategy to reduce nutrient losses by 50% by 2030 • Strengthening European independence from external inputs (fertilizers, water)
Improving Technology Transfer
• Public and private funds for R&D • Qualified human resources (12 young professionals involved) • Municipal infrastructure (wastewater treatment plant) • Advanced technologies (RAS, biofilters, UVC• LED, blockchain, AI, sensors, photovoltaics) • Institutional and academic support • Multidisciplinary technical-scientific expertise
• Design and construction of the pilot plant • Development of biofilters and integrated treatment systems • Food safety and product quality testing • Creation of scientific and educational materials • Organization of webinars, workshops, on-site courses • Implementation of a physical and virtual demonstration platform • Launch of a new local value chain
• First European demonstration plant of aquaponics on wastewater • Filing of a provisional patent • 8 open access scientific publications • Permanent educational platform in Castellana Grotte • Involvement of local professionals and stakeholders • Smart and automated systems (AI + blockchain + sensors) • Production of fish and vegetables for safe human consumption
• Validation of technologies that can be replicated on a large scale • Cultural and institutional change towards the adoption of urban aquaponics • Training of local professionals (early adopters) able to transfer know-how • Involvement of public and private stakeholders for replicability • Building public trust in the safe reuse of wastewater
• Potential replication in more European cities • Creation of a new circular industry between water utilities and urban agriculture • Contribution to policies and regulations on the use of treated wastewater in aquaculture • Reduction of environmental impact and dependence on external resources • Increase in employment and birth of new businesses in the green• tech sector • Systemic transformation in integrated water-food-energy management
Reducing inequalities
• Financial resources for pilot plant; • technical and scientific know-how; • 12 young professionals involved; • digital technologies (IoT, blockchain); • local institutional support.
• Construction of the integrated aquaponic system in the existing plant; • stakeholder involvement; • training and mentoring; • educational and public communication activities.
• vocational training; • public and virtual tours; • access to locally produced vegetables and fish at low cost;
• Increasing equitable access to water and food resources in disadvantaged territories; • Improving public awareness and digital skills in a community subject to technological exclusion; • creation of new local training and professional opportunities.
• Structural reduction of territorial inequalities (e.g. rural areas with water scarcity); • Equitable access to innovation and resources; • creation of local jobs; • greater food sovereignty; • possible replication in other European cities; • local empowerment through continuous training and autonomous management of the plant in the long term.
Employment and quality of work standards
• Human resources (12 young professionals involved), • European funds for research and innovation, local institutional support
• Training, mentoring and involvement in research and development activities related to the AWARE plant; • participation in public and demonstration events
• Involvement of 12 early• stage professionals; • transfer of skills; • creation of temporary technical figures
• Creation of skilled but temporary jobs; • growth of skills in young professionals; • start of professional paths
• Limited employment impact: the roles are fixed-term and do not guarantee continuity; • automation reduces the need for labor; • low structural impact on the local labour market; • Replicability of the model could generate similar places elsewhere
Governance and accountability
• Consortium of 20 partners (universities, public bodies, companies, NGOs) • Institutional codes of ethics • Horizon Europe requirements • IT infrastructure for transparency (website, open access deliverables)
• Application of university codes of ethics • Publication of data via website and social channels • Sharing of open access deliverables • Compliance with the ethical and data management rules required by the Horizon Europe program
• Creation of the public website and social channels • Activation of partner codes of ethics • Launch of practices of transparent sharing of results • Active participation of 12 young professionals
• Strengthening of transparency and accountability practices between partners • Standardization of ethical procedures in innovation projects • Increased trust of local stakeholders
• Systemic strengthening of the legitimacy of sustainable innovation • Promotion of public trust in sustainable technologies • Alignment with EU standards on transparency and accountability, creating the basis for future policy adoption, even without formalised impact tracking tools (e.g. audit, whistleblowing)
Multistakeholder Cooperation
• Human and financial resources of the AWARE consortium (20 partners from 8 countries); • relational capital; • participatory tools; • academic and technical knowledge.
• Stakeholder mapping; • multi-actor meetings; • co-design of project activities; • public workshops; • regulatory road map; • use of tools such as the "Stakeholder Engagement Toolbox"; communication with public authorities and local communities.
• Mapping completed; • Legislative roadmap developed; • active participation of public and private stakeholders; • educational workshops; • building channels of trust with authorities and citizens.
• Increased trust of the local community; • overcoming resistance to the use of regenerated water; • co• design that strengthens social capital; • strengthening the institutional capacity for shared management of resources; • increase in cross-sectoral skills.
Development of a participatory governance model for water and aquaponics management; • Possibility of regulatory reform at local, national and EU level; creation of lasting networks; • contribution to the structuring of new co-governed decision-making methods.
Social Relations and Community Involvement
• Financial resources of the Horizon Europe programme; • human resources (12 early• stage professionals); • scientific and technical know-how; • IT and communication tools; • local institutional support.
• Educational workshops, public meetings, stakeholder mapping, information campaigns, co-planning with farmers and citizens, involvement of local actors (municipal authorities, communities, schools, consumers).
• establishment of a multi-sectoral consortium; • activities demonstrations with direct community involvement; • structured feedback from local users.
Increased community awareness and acceptance towards the use of treated wastewater in aquaponics; • building trust between citizens, authorities and the project; • formation of new collaborative networks; • greater community participation in the design of solutions; • beginning of change in cultural and behavioral perceptions towards the reuse of resources.
• Strengthening of local social capital; potential creation of co-management models of plants (e.g. cooperatives); • continuous involvement of the community in future projects; • normalization of the use of reclaimed water for food production; • improved local resilience against environmental or supply shocks; • integration of innovation into the local socio-institutional fabric; cultural change in the perception of water resources.
To promote the growth and exchange of culture, science and knowledge
• Economic resources of Horizon Europe; • 20 European partners from different sectors and countries; • 12 early• stage professionals; multidisciplinary skills (engineers, biologists, sociologists, educators); • innovative technologies (aquaponics, biofilter)
• Co-design and experimentation at the wastewater treatment plant; • training within the consortium and exchange of skills between partners; • educational activities with schools and communities; • scientific communication and open access
• 8 open access publications; • construction of the first European aquaponic system in a purification plant; • school module on sustainable water; • patent application; • legislative roadmap; • biofilter development;
• Increase in internal skills (interdisciplinary problem-solving, living labs management); • growth in public trust in food produced with reclaimed water; • greater awareness and participation of the community (especially young people) in sustainability issues
• Lasting integration of the practices learned into academic programmes and future partnerships; • evolution of cultural and narrative norms on water and waste; • strengthening of an innovative and inclusive local ecosystem (intergenerational and interdisciplinary); • dissemination of the culture of sustainable innovation
Economic and financial sustainability and bankability of the project
Sources of capital (public/private), investment costs (CAPEX), operating costs (OPEX), cash flow analysis
Financial structuring; cash flow and debt management; ROI and DSCR (Debit Service Coverage Ratio) monitoring
Balance between costs and revenues availability of resources for the entire project lifecycle
Economically sustainable project, with adequate returns (compared to the expected results and those obtained
Financially resilient project capable of attracting investors, generating stable and lasting value for the territory (descriptive part of the financial dimension