The problem is that today there are no commercially available nutrient recovery systems for closed circulating water-based food production systems (a so-called aquaponic system). In order for these to be realized to their full potential, nutrient recycling is needed in systems with digitally controlled bioreactors.

Sludge (food scraps and fish feces) from a fish farm, integrated into an aquaponic creates a waste stream that cannot be fully utilized. It creates nutrient leakage if used on agricultural fields. It creates expensive energy and process costs if it has to be dried and sanitized in order to be used as soil improvement. It creates expensive transport costs if it is to be used at a central biogas plant.

Other problems the innovation must solve are increased nutrient availability for primary production in aquaponics (leafy greens), where artificial fertilizers must otherwise be used to supplement the nutrient supply for production, as well as energy supply, via local access to biogas from the process that can be used for various processes in a circular production plant.

The innovation solves these problems through a series of integrated and digitally controlled bioreactors, where the final products are: biogas, a liquid nutrient flow and a soil improver.

Expected result is a demonstrated and fully tested sludge treatment system (STREM), with digital measurement and control module in an automated plant with TRL 8.