Aware
AWARE creates Europe’s first aquaponic farm using purified wastewater to grow tilapia and vegetables: a circular, sustainable “wastewater-to-food” model in Castellana Grotte (Italy).
The AWARE project is a pioneering European research initiative funded under Horizon Europe, aiming to build the first aquaponic farm in Europe using reclaimed municipal wastewater.
Located within the wastewater treatment plant of Castellana Grotte (Puglia, Italy), the demonstration facility integrates advanced tertiary (and even quaternary) treatments — including ozonation, vacuum-UV, biofiltration — to purify reclaimed water to a quality sufficient for safe aquaculture. Through a recirculating aquaponic system, the project combines fish farming (tilapia) with hydroponic cultivation of vegetables (e.g., lettuce), thus establishing a circular, resource-efficient “wastewater-to-food” value chain.
Equipped with IoT sensors, automated feeding and aeration, and blockchain-based traceability, the system monitors water quality and welfare of fish in real time, while gathering data to ensure safety and transparency along the food chain.
Beyond production, AWARE seeks to address regulatory, social, and economic barriers: to demonstrate that reclaimed-water aquaponics can meet stringent food-safety standards, to assess consumer acceptance, and to pave the way for policy change allowing wastewater-derived aquacultural production at urban scale across Europe.
If successful, AWARE could significantly reduce freshwater demand for agriculture/aquaculture, close nutrient and water loops, create a resilient and local food-production model, and contribute to the European Green Deal’s “Farm to Fork” objectives — offering a scalable, sustainable alternative for urban and peri-urban food security.
POLICY GOALS
SHARED STEWARDSHIP
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PARTNERS
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Aware
AWARE is an EU-funded project that has built a pilot aquaponic farm in Castellana Grotte (Puglia), inside a wastewater treatment plant. The idea is to reuse treated municipal wastewater — after advanced purification — to farm fish (tilapia) and grow vegetables (like lettuce) in a single, sustainable system.
Using IoT sensors and automated systems, AWARE monitors water quality and animal welfare in real time, while a blockchain ensures traceability of the food produced.
The project aims to prove that food grown this way is safe and of good quality, and to overcome current regulatory barriers in Europe that prohibit the use of reclaimed water for aquaculture.
If successful, this model could be replicated in other European cities, offering a circular, low-impact, urban farming solution that cuts water use and brings food production closer to consumers.
Impact Measurement
Economic Performance
- Funds for R&I- IoT technologies, automation, blockchain- Involvement of 12 young professionals- Local institutional and academic support
- Construction of aquaponic plant- Start of fish/vegetable production- Training and local bootcamp for digital skills
- Aquaponic plant completed - 180 kg of fish, 600 kg of vegetables, 60 kg of protein per year - 12 young people involved in training and operational activities
- Creation of qualified work in a low-skilled context- New digital and technical-scientific skills in the community- Start of a previously non-existent sector- Possibility of replication and growth with potential scalability
- Structural change possible in the long term with replicability- Diversification of the local agricultural economy- Strengthening of the economic and circular resilience of the territory- Castellana Grotte becomes a reference center for training and innovation in aquaponics
Ecosystem integrity
- Existing infrastructure (wastewater treatment plant) - Investments in aquaponics technology and biofilters - Technical and scientific staff - Access to know-how and institutional support (research, EU)
- Construction of the first European aquaponic system in purification plant - Research, development and scientific publication - Installation and testing of the biofilter - Production and monitoring of fish and vegetables - Use of renewable energy where possible
- Operational aquaponic system - 8 open access scientific publications - Advancement in biofilter technology - Expected production: 180 kg of fish, 600 kg of vegetables, 60 kg of protein per year - 24 mln liters of water saved per year
- Strengthening the sustainable agri-food sector - Creation of new replicable circular production models - Activation of short and local supply chains - Access to safe and nutritious food - Innovation transferable to other regions
- Potential replicability in Mediterranean areas and global communities - Significant reduction in freshwater withdrawal and nutrient pollution - Strengthening local economic resilience and sustainable food systems - Stimulating green-tech and inclusive employment
Reducing emissions
Titoloq- Financial resources for R&D and plant construction - Specialized technical and scientific personnel - Public infrastructures (wastewater treatment plant) - Technologies for aquaponic systems and biofilters
- Design and construction of the aquaponic system - Biofilter development - Publication of results - Patent filing
- First European aquaponic plant integrated into a wastewater treatment plant - 8 open access publications - 1 provisional patent - Technological advancement in biological filtration
- New models of circular urban food production - Greater attractiveness for sustainable investments - Local job opportunities in green tech
- Possible transformation of public facilities into "food hubs" - Stimulation of resilient and circular local economies - Potential structural decarbonization of urban food supply chains - Scalability and replicability at urban and international level
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Waste Management
- Public and/or private funding for construction and research - Aquaponics experts, environmental engineers, food technologists - Existing infrastructure (wastewater treatment plant) - Biofilter technologies, UV treatment, RAS - Institutional and regulatory support (e.g. EU nutrient framework)
- Design and implementation of the integrated aquaponic system - Development and application of the biofilter - Wastewater and nutrient quality monitoring - Optimization of water and nutrient recovery
- First European aquaponic plant in a wastewater treatment plant - Recovery and reuse of water and nutrients - Almost total absence of solid and liquid waste output - Direct industrial application of the developed technology
- Sustainable management of 80–90% of waste compared to the baseline scenario - High efficiency in nitrogen and phosphorus recovery - Practical demonstration of a closed water-nutrient-food loop - Decrease of environmental pressure from plants
- Creation of a new circular economy cycle in the water-food nexus - Potential replicability in many European cities - Structural reduction of nutrient pollution at regional level - Contribution to the EU strategy to reduce nutrient losses by 50% by 2030 - Strengthening European independence from external inputs (fertilisers, water)
Technology Transfer
- Public and private funds for R&D - Qualified human resources (12 young professionals involved) - Municipal infrastructure (wastewater treatment plant) - Advanced technologies (RAS, biofilters, UVC-LED, blockchain, AI, sensors, photovoltaics) - Institutional and academic support - Multidisciplinary technical-scientific expertise
- Design and implementation of the pilot plant - Development of biofilters and integrated treatment systems - Food safety and product quality tests - Creation of scientific and dissemination materials - Organization of webinars, workshops, on-site courses - Implementation of a physical and virtual demonstration platform - Launch of a new local value chain
- First European demonstration plant of aquaponics on wastewater - Filing of a provisional patent - 8 open access scientific publications - Permanent educational platform in Castellana Grotte - Involvement of local professionals and stakeholders - Smart and automated systems (AI + blockchain + sensors) - Production of fish and vegetables for safe human consumption
- Validation of technologies that can be replicated on a large scale - Cultural and institutional change towards the adoption of urban aquaponics - Training of local professionals (early adopters) able to transfer know-how - Involvement of public and private stakeholders for replicability - Building public trust in the safe reuse of wastewater
- Potential replication in more European cities - Creation of a new circular industry between water utilities and urban agriculture - Contribution to policies and regulations on the use of treated wastewater in aquaculture - Reduction of environmental impact and dependence on external resources - Increase in employment and birth of new businesses in the green-tech sector - Systemic transformation in integrated water-food-energy management
Reducing inequalities
- Financial resources for pilot plant; - technical and scientific know-how; - 12 young professionals involved; - digital technologies (IoT, blockchain); - local institutional support.
- Construction of the integrated aquaponic system in the existing plant; - stakeholder involvement; - training and mentoring; - educational and public communication activities.
-vocational training; - public and virtual tours; - access to locally produced vegetables and fish at low cost;
- Increasing equitable access to water and food resources in disadvantaged territories; -Improving public awareness and digital skills in a community subject to technological exclusion; - creation of new local training and professional opportunities.
-Structural reduction of territorial inequalities (e.g. rural areas with water scarcity); - Equitable access to innovation and resources; - creation of local jobs; - greater food sovereignty; - possible replication in other European cities; - local empowerment through continuous training and autonomous management of the plant in the long term.
Employment and quality of work standards
-Human resources (12 young professionals involved), - European funds for research and innovation, local institutional support
- Training, mentoring and involvement in research and development activities related to the AWARE plant; - participation in public and demonstration events
- Involvement of 12 early-stage professionals; - transfer of skills; - creation of temporary technical figures
- Creation of skilled but temporary jobs; - growth of skills in young professionals; - start of professional paths
- Limited employment impact: the roles are fixed-term and do not guarantee continuity; -automation reduces the need for labor; -modest structural impact on the local labour market; - replicability of the model could generate similar places elsewhere
Governance and accountability
- Consortium of 20 partners (universities, public bodies, companies, NGOs) - Institutional codes of ethics - Horizon Europe requirements - IT infrastructure for transparency (website, open access deliverables)
- Application of university codes of ethics - Publication of data via website and social channels - Sharing of deliverables in open access - Compliance with the ethical and data management rules required by the Horizon Europe program
- Creation of the public website and social channels - Activation of partner codes of ethics - Launch of practices of transparent sharing of results - Active participation of 12 young professionals
- Strengthening transparency and accountability practices between partners - Standardization of ethical procedures in innovation projects - Increased trust of local stakeholders
- Systemic strengthening of the legitimacy of sustainable innovation - Promotion of public trust in sustainable technologies - Alignment with EU standards on transparency and accountability, creating the basis for future policy adoption, even without formalised impact tracking tools (e.g. audit, whistleblowing)
Multistakeholder Cooperation
-Human and financial resources of the AWARE consortium (20 partners from 8 countries); - relational capital; - participatory tools; - academic and technical knowledge.
- Stakeholder mapping; - multi-actor meetings; - co-design of project activities; - public workshops; - regulatory road map; - use of tools such as the "Stakeholder Engagement Toolbox"; communication with public authorities and local communities.
-Mapping completed; - Legislative roadmap developed; - active participation of public and private stakeholders; - educational workshops; - building channels of trust with authorities and citizens.
- Increased trust of the local community; - overcoming resistance to the use of regenerated water; - co-design that strengthens social capital; - strengthening the institutional capacity for shared management of resources; - increase in cross-sectoral skills.
Development of a participatory governance model for water and aquaponics management; - Possibility of regulatory reform at local, national and EU level; creation of lasting networks; - contribution to the structuring of new co-governed decision-making methods.
Social Relations and Community Involvement
- Financial resources of the Horizon Europe programme; - human resources (12 early-stage professionals); - scientific and technical know-how; - IT and communication tools; - local institutional support.
-Educational workshops, public meetings, stakeholder mapping, information campaigns, co-design with farmers and citizens, involvement of local actors (municipal authorities, communities, schools, consumers).
- establishment of a multi-sectoral consortium; -activity demonstrations with direct community involvement; -structured feedback from local users.
Increased community awareness and acceptance towards the use of treated wastewater in aquaponics; - building trust between citizens, authorities and the project; - formation of new collaborative networks; - greater community participation in the design of solutions; - beginning of change in cultural and behavioral perceptions towards the reuse of resources.
- Strengthening of local social capital; potential creation of co-management models of plants (e.g. cooperatives); - continuous involvement of the community in future projects; -normalization of the use of reclaimed water for food production; -Improved local resilience against environmental or supply shocks; - integration of innovation into the local socio-institutional fabric; cultural change in the perception of water resources.
Knowledge growth and exchange
- Economic resources of Horizon Europe; -20 European partners from different sectors and countries; -12 early-stage professionals; multidisciplinary skills (engineers, biologists, sociologists, educators); - innovative technologies (aquaponics, biofilter)
- Co-design and experimentation at the wastewater treatment plant; -in-consortium training and exchanges of expertise between partners; - educational activities with schools and communities; - scientific communication and open access
- 8 open access publications; - construction of the first European aquaponic system in a purification plant; - school module on sustainable water; - patent application; - legislative roadmap; - biofilter development;
- Increase in internal skills (interdisciplinary problem-solving, living labs management); - growth of public trust in food produced with reclaimed water; - greater awareness and participation of the community (especially young people) in sustainability issues
-Lasting integration of the practices learned into academic programmes and future partnerships; - evolution of cultural and narrative norms on water and waste; -strengthening of an innovative and inclusive local ecosystem (intergenerational and interdisciplinary); - dissemination of the culture of sustainable innovation
Interests of future generation
-EU financial resources; - scientific, technical and institutional skills; - water treatment infrastructure; aquaponics technology; -academic and industrial partners; -open data.
- scientific dissemination and training; - involvement of schools and young people; -creation of regulatory roadmaps; - community awareness.
-Working circular aquaponics system; - 8 open access publications; - 12 young professionals involved; - provisional patent filed;
- Increased awareness among young people and communities on the reuse of resources; -strengthening of environmental skills; -Increased social acceptance of sustainable technologies; - involvement of schools and students; visibility of circular practices as an educational and professional model.
- Preservation of water and environmental resources for future generations; - creation of a new replicable green supply chain; -Sustainable employment potential for young people (e.g. aquaculture, circular agriculture); -Improving local climate and food resilience; -Open access to data for future innovations; - cultural change towards sustainable resource management.