Development of a novel recirculatory multitrophic peatland system for the production of high-value bio-based products at scale embracing zero waste and pollution principles to unlock sustainable development goals

Abstract

This case study describes the novel development and demonstration of commercial, green, bio-based products using a peatland based recirculating integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) system in the Irish Midlands. This site enables the transition from traditional peat harvesting for energy generation towards alternative sustainable employment. The system effectively addresses sustainable in-land freshwater aquaculture development. It also demonstrates value-chain products at scale for new feeds arising from the fish waste-stream by exploiting cascades from the fish culture waste-stream (bio-fertiliser) for cultivating duckweed and macroalgae. These plants can then be bio-refined and valorised to produce new products. The system also provides a circular demonstrator site that will facilitate industry and entrepreneurs to develop and test new innovations and ideas. By providing this open-access site to support companies in testing, financial constraints such as access to specialist equipment and technical expertise will be off-set thus enabling entrepreneurs and industry to develop new commercial products at scale. Additionally, the outputs from this system will help address and inform several United Nations sustainable development goals.

Keywords

• Bioeconomy
• Peatland
• Commercial demonstrator
• Aquaculture
• Change of land use
• Sustainability