AquaFarm 2018
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More than just aquaculture in Italy by Roger Gilbert, International Aquafeed
he International conference and exhibition AquaFarm 2018, held its second annual edition dedicated to the technologies, products and best practices of sustainable production of fish at the Pordenone Exhibition Center near Venice, Italy from February 15-16, 2018. This B2B event is dedicated to aquaculture, algae and sustainable fishing, including Mediterranean aquaculture and sustainable fisheries, algae cultivation and vertical farming vegetable crops that rely on hydroponic, aeroponic and aquaponic techniques. The goal of joining together these seemingly diverse themes in one single event is to allow companies to develop new businesses, be up to date on research and create networks and synergies, say the organisers. “Aquaponics is just one of the examples of how aquaculture and vertical farming are inter-connected,” they say.
“The event is now a must also for all operators of vertical farms and off-ground crops sectors, as well as the industrial and environmental algae applications.” Pordenone is situated near Venice, in a strategic position in a highly-connected basin that includes Italian, Austrian, Slovenian and Croatian regions in the Northern Adriatic Sea and Eastern Alps. It also attracted visitors from as far afield as Albania, the Balkan to Malta, Turkey, Spain and Portugal. Organised by the Pordenone Fiere with the support of four national and local institutions, it attracted a professional audience of over 1000 visitors this year. Over the two days it addressed issues in Mediterranean aquaculture and sustainable fisheries, algae cultivation and vegetable crops that rely on hydroponic, aeroponic and aquaponic techniques, known as indoor and vertical farming systems. A central theme was the ‘instruments’ that the Europe Union offers in order to ensure food and active ingredients for the health and well-being of the population in an environmentally friendly manner even in the face of higher living standards.
The objective
The conferences
With only two editions held, Aquafarm has become Italy’s premiere aquaculture event and a reference point in SouthEastern Europe and in the Mediterranean Basin regarding the fish farming and fishing industries,” say the organisers.
The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry responsible for fisheries and aquaculture in Italy, Giuseppe Castiglione, was called upon to open the exhibition along with Paolo Panontin the Fisheries Council Member and the
50 | April 2018 - International Aquafeed