Copenhagen is the place to be in late August!
AQUA 2024 is co-organised by the European Aquaculture Society (EAS) and the World Aquaculture Society (WAS) and is held every six years. AQUA 2024 has been organised with the support of our local partners, the Danish Export Association Fish Tech, ICES, DTU AQUA, the University of Copenhagen, Eurofish International Organisation, and the Copenhagen Convention Bureau.
This year’s edition includes a scientific conference, trade exhibition, industry forums, workshops, student events, and receptions. The event will highlight the latest aquaculture research and innovation to underpin the continued growth of this sector. It will be a showcase for Denmark and its innovation leadership in several key technologies crucial for future aquaculture, but also a meeting and exchange platform for experts from around the world. The total expected participation is 2500 attendees from 90 countries.
Blue Food: Green Solutions is the overarching theme of the event
The scientific conference will include more than 60 sessions covering all aspects of aquaculture research. To put some general highlights to the conference theme, the organisers included two special plenary sessions in the schedule.
On August 27th, Dag Sletmo from DNB will give an opening speech “Analysing the Future.” According to FAO, sustainable aquaculture must increase by 75% by 2040 to help limit global warming to 1.5 degrees C. Mr Sletmo will discuss the financial investments needed, focusing on new technology, improved practices, and regulations to boost production while reducing environmental impact. He will also address the industry’s reliance on government regulations and social license, and how to finance these initiatives, with a focus on salmon and general aquaculture.
On August 30th, the second plenary will be given by Signe Riemer-Sørensen from SINTEF, offering her views on “AI with Knowledge.” Large language models have democratized AI. Co-pilots and chat-bots are changing most office jobs, but despite their impact, they will not revolutionize aquaculture. For that, we need completely different types of AI. Through examples from aquaculture and beyond, Ms Riemer-Sørensen will explain the challenges, provide intuitive insights into AI, and introduce the latest developments on industrial AI and their potential in aquaculture.
Industry and Innovation forums
A regular feature of EAS events is the Industry Forum and the Innovation Forum, and these will take place during AQUA 2024.
The Industry Forum will be held all day on August 27 and will address the main event’s theme, with key questions about the status and future of the sector with regards to adaptation to climate change, mitigation of its effects, circular approaches, and other externalities.
The Innovation Forum, “Exploring Inter-Regional Collaboration & Innovation Transfer Vehicles for Aquaculture.” will be run all day on August 28. It will examine inter-regional collaboration for innovation transfer within EU policy and globally, featuring four sessions with presentations and discussions about the development of sustainable European aquaculture, practical implementation of innovation transfer, the role of academic and research networks in such transfer, and strategies for its funding and facilitation.
Other activities at AQUA 2024
AQUA 2024 will feature special sessions bridging science and industry, covering topics such as Atlantic salmon health assessment, the EUROshrimp Forum, future aquafeed supply chains, host resistance to sea lice, light effects on fish and other organisms, and IMTA with low-trophic aquaculture.
The AQUA 2024 exhibition will host more than 240 booths from suppliers and operators covering all aspects of aquaculture production at the global level. All coffee breaks and happy hours will be held in the exhibition hall to maximise interaction between experts and visitors, of which some 1,400 are expected.
The organisers have arranged several tours on 26 August: to high-tech facilities at the Danish Technical University (DTU) National Food Institute, OxyGuard International’s Danish Headquarters, Marel Progress Point Global Demo Center, and to the Danish National Aquarium.
To find more information about AQUA 2024 and to register, please follow the link: https://www.aquaeas.org/