BlueFeed Cluster Hosts Its Second Technical Webinar: From Science to Practice
BlueFeed Cluster kicks off with its first introductory webinar
enero 27, 2026
NeoGiANT Final General Assembly and Closing Event Held in Santiago de Compostela
marzo 6, 2026
BlueFeed Cluster Hosts Its Second Technical Webinar: From Science to Practice
On February 10th, from 10:00 to 11:00 AM, the BlueFeed Cluster successfully held its second technical webinar, bringing together leading Horizon Europe projects to exchange methodological approaches and practical solutions for a more sustainable aquaculture and feed sector.
The session, titled “From Science to Practice: Methodological Approaches within the BlueFeed Cluster”, highlighted how cutting-edge research is being translated into real-world applications — reinforcing the shared commitment of the cluster to healthier, more resilient, and environmentally responsible aquaculture systems.
The BlueFeed Cluster brings together six Horizon Europe projects working collaboratively toward sustainable feed and aquaculture innovation:
NeoGiANT
POLYPUFA
SwitchFloc
ActFast
Microbiomes4Soy
EUAqua.Org
Advancing Sustainable Aquaculture Through Methodological Innovation
The webinar featured technical presentations from several cluster partners, each showcasing innovative methodologies addressing sustainability, resilience, feed efficiency, and fish health.
NeoGiANT: Natural Antimicrobial Strategies for Aquaculture and Animal Production
NeoGiANT focuses on developing natural antimicrobial alternatives derived from agrifood by-products to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Within the BlueFeed framework, NeoGiANT contributes to:
Reducing antibiotic dependence in aquaculture and animal production
Developing sustainable feed additives based on natural extracts
Promoting circular economy approaches through biomass valorisation
By integrating science-based antimicrobial strategies into feed systems, NeoGiANT supports healthier animals and more responsible production models.
POLYPUFA: Enhancing Aquafeeds with Sustainable Lipid Sources
POLYPUFA aims to improve the availability of sustainable polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) for aquafeeds.
The project works on:
Developing alternative lipid sources to reduce reliance on marine fish oil
Improving the nutritional profile of farmed fish
Supporting environmentally responsible aquaculture production
POLYPUFA contributes to the BlueFeed Cluster by addressing one of the key challenges in aquafeed sustainability: securing healthy and sustainable omega-3 sources.
SwitchFloc: Optimising Biofloc Systems for Shrimp Production
Representatives from SwitchFloc presented research focused on:
Evaluating the contribution of biofloc systems to shrimp production
Developing protocols to preserve biofloc over time
Designing low-protein feeds with high fishmeal replacement using alternative protein sources
Their work demonstrated how improved biofloc management and microalgae integration can enhance shrimp health, stress resilience, and production efficiency, while reducing dependency on traditional protein sources.
Microbiomes4Soy: Microbiome-Based Solutions for Sustainable Feed
The Microbiomes4Soy team explored how microbiome research can reshape food and feed systems. Their approach includes:
Improving soybean production through plant–microbiome interactions
Developing microbiome-informed aquafeeds
Testing commercial and fermented soybean diets in seabass
Evaluating growth performance, gut health, immune response, and microbiome modulation
By combining agronomy, nutrition, and aquaculture research, the project aims to reduce fishmeal dependence and enhance environmental performance in aquafeeds.
ActFast: Climate-Adapted Feeds and Aquaculture Systems
The ActFast project presented its climate adaptation strategy for European aquaculture, focusing on functional feeds and climate-corrected formulations.
Among its key exploitable results (KERs):
Climate-corrected aquafeeds using low-carbon and circular ingredients
Functional feeds to mitigate pathogen and heatwave effects in seabass
Winter-adapted feeds for carp under cold and hypoxic conditions
AI-based early warning systems and biosensors for fish health
With 13 innovations advancing toward market readiness (TRL 6–7), ActFast demonstrated how research-driven feed solutions can support sector resilience under climate stress.
EUAqua.Org: Improving Feed Efficiency Through Selective Breeding
EUAqua.Org focuses on improving feed efficiency and sustainability through selective breeding and optimized nutrition strategies.
Its work includes:
Assessing cost-effective and health-improving organic diets
Enhancing feed efficiency through genetic selection
Supporting sustainable aquaculture production models
EUAqua.Org strengthens the BlueFeed Cluster by connecting nutrition, genetics, and sustainability to improve long-term sector performance.
Strengthening Collaboration Within the BlueFeed Cluster
The webinar once again highlighted the value of cross-project collaboration within the BlueFeed Cluster. By aligning methodologies, sharing experimental designs, and discussing validation strategies, the cluster enhances knowledge exchange and maximises impact across Horizon Europe initiatives.
Through this coordinated effort, projects address key challenges in aquaculture: antimicrobial resistance, climate change, feed sustainability, microbiome health, lipid sourcing, and genetic efficiency!
Watch the Webinar Recording
Missed the session?
You can catch up on all the presentations and technical discussions by watching the full webinar recording.
👉 Watch the video and discover how BlueFeed projects are transforming aquaculture from science to practice.
Stay connected with NeoGiANT and the BlueFeed Cluster as we continue driving innovation toward healthier animals, sustainable feeds, and resilient aquaculture systems across Europe.
