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FORSTERK-Forsterkningsmidler

Norwegian Low Trophic Aquaculture Network

Awarded: NOK 1.0 mill.

Project Number:

322512

Project Period:

2021 - 2023

Funding received from:

The NoLTANet (Norwegian Low Trophic Aquaculture Network) project established a 50+ member Norwegian network of industry, research, and other organizations working with low-trophic aquaculture (LTA). The most important delivery from the project was the information hub "ALTANet" (Atlantic Low Trophic Aquaculture Network, https://altanet.info/) which contains updated content on projects, calls, webinars, publications, news, websites, and photos. As the interest for low trophic aquaculture goes beyond the border of Norway, the website includes information on low trophic aquaculture for the entire Atlantic region. A physical workshop with close to 50 participants was held in Tromsoe, as well as several virtual meetings with other project participants (UiT, Norce and Bellona), a demand specification for the website was written, and the domain name altanet.info was bought. Based on AI and machine learning a webcrawler scans the web to search for news on low trophic aquaculture and automatically updates the "news" section of the website. At project end the webcrawler had identified more than 3500 relevant news stories that are available and searchable at altanet.info.

Outcomes: - Established a durable LTA network in Norway to facilitate exchange of knowledge, access to relevant information, and improved competence - Hosted a LTA workshop in Tromsø with close to 50 participants; this was so popular and successful that it was decided to make it an annual event facilitated by Nofima - Developed a website which will be kept operational which contains updated content on projects, calls, webinars, publications, news, and website. Online news stories related to LTA are identified daily by an AI-based webcrawler using machine learning Impact: - Increased amount and improved efficiency of LTA in Norway; help diversify the aquaculture industry - Creation of a network with the potential to influence LTA-related policy - Increased Norwegian participation in future European LTA-related research and innovation projects - Norwegian interests will be well represented in the European standardization process which will produce good practice recommendations relating to LTA production

NoLTANet will create a network of Norwegian stakeholders involved and interested in Low Trophic Aquaculture (LTA). This is a rapidly expanding research and innovation area, there are many Norwegian industry, research, and other organizations working in this field, but there is currently no common forum where they can meet, discuss, and exchange views and practices. NoLTANet will alleviate this situation by establishing a network with at least 30 members, by producing newsletters, by setting up a website with a discussion forum and links to relevant news stories, articles, reports, conferences, and initiatives, and by hosting at least two plenary network meetings. NoLTANet has been designed to interact with 3 ongoing H2020 projects: AquaVitae, ASTRAL and AANChOR. All of these are “All Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance Flagship” projects which means they have significant representation from Brazil and South Africa, they are rather large (8 / 8 / 4 MEUR EU contribution), and they are expected to run for 54 months, starting in 2019/2020. These projects contain a number of outreach activities; both activities designed to disseminate and communicate from these projects to interested parties, and activities designed to elicit preferences and requirements from stakeholders to inform the planned research, innovation, and standardization activities (AquaVitae will make a European LTA standard). NoLTANet will ensure that Norwegian LTA organizations are in a position to utilize the outputs from these projects, and also that the views and preferences of Norwegian stakeholders are taken into consideration in the upcoming research and standardization activities. Early drafts of upcoming European research work programmes (Horizon Europe in particular) indicate numerous funding opportunities for LTA related research; NoLTANet will engage and inform Norwegian LTA organizations about these calls and ensure significant Norwegian participation in future European projects in this area.

Publications from Cristin

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Funding scheme:

FORSTERK-Forsterkningsmidler

Funding Sources