Self-sufficient Integrated Multi-Trophic AquaPonic systems for improving food production sustainability and brackish water use and recycling – SIMTAP

We developed the ecosystem based approach for SIMTAP through the following tasks: 1) Designing, building and trying out a SIMTAP pilot or specific sections of it, for its use under different Mediterranean climatic conditions. 2) Study of the most suitable edible plants and plants to be used in nutraceutical/pharmaceutical production chains, to be integrated in the SIMTAP system. 3) Study of the dietary inclusion levels of polychaetes in diets of European sea bass and sea bream and study of the dietary inclusions of other deposit/filter feeders in diets of sea bream and mullet. 4) Designing, building and trying out an integrated smart monitoring and control system conceived specifically for SIMTAP systems and integration in the above-mentioned pilots.
We implemented and tested SIMTAP in different contexts through the following activities: 1) Pilot tests carried out in Italy, France, Turkey, using diverse algae/deposit/filter feeders combinations in order to optimize biomass production. 2) Testing SIMTAP systems, or specific parts of it, by carrying out experimental production cycles in Italy, France, Turkey. The aim of this activity was to investigate the production performances of the SIMTAP system using a different “pattern” of organisms (plants, algae, bloodworms and other deposit/filter feeders, and fish) and process conditions. 3) Assessing and optimizing the energy efficiency of the SIMTAP systems.
We Integrated SIMTAP in current hydroponic systems to enhance market transferability and sustainability through: 1) Studying and testing the algae and deposit/filter feeders production cycles using brackish water resulting from open-loop hydroponic soilless systems and other sources in a SIMTAP system. 2) Evaluating the final run-off from the cascade system, and the waste reduction achieved in comparison to the standard production systems. 3) Development of a decision support system aimed at defining the optimal location of SIMTAP systems based on multi-criteria GIS models.
We assessed the quality of the food end-products. Physiological, phenological and nutritional features of plants, and health status and fillet quality of fish were evaluated.
Economic and environmental sustainability was assessed 1) Global multicriteria assessment approach. 2) Implementation of tools such as economic models and logic framework project planning concept that can assist farmers to improve their management, and secure a sustainable income. 3) Identifying the environmental performances of the whole integrated cycle respect to aquaculture and hydroponic and the main hotspots using the Life Cycle Assessment. 4) Emergy analysis. 5) The social performances.
Finally, guidelines, best practices and a user’s manual were produced.

SIMTAP prototype systems have produced interesting results, shedding light on the conditions for rearing different species in co-culture. In particular, the Bourcefranc system demonstrated the possibility of rearing sea bream, oysters, clams and Kuruma shrimp in synergy, with improved zootechnical results. It has also been shown that it is possible to raise sea bream with a vegetable feed and discarded mussels.
The sustainability assessment method developed as part of the project (DEXiAqua) showed the good results of French and Italian SIMTAP compared with traditional sea bream and sea bass farming. The strong points of SIMTAP systems are reduced impact on ecosystems, respect for natural resources and protection of biodiversity. The obvious effect of nutrient recycling in SIMTAP systems is the main strength, enabling the reuse of nitrogen and phosphorus and limiting the potential for eutrophication.
The carbon footprint of SIMTAP systems is controversial. Offshore fish farming systems are energy-efficient and produce large quantities of fish. Consequently, when compared on the basis of kCal produced, they rank better than SIMTAPs. These results highlight the trade-off between nutrient recycling and the energy cost of pumping and circulating water.
Emphasis was placed on using other sources of nutrients to replace fish and fish oil. Two experiments were carried out with this in mind in Italy and France. In the SIMTAP systems, the environmental impact due to feed use was clearly reduced thanks to the co-production of other products, and because traditional feeds could be saved through the use of self-produced protein sources. However, the practice of self-production can only be considered as a feed supplement. In the French SIMTAP, it was chosen to use fresh mussels to supplement feeds formulated with plant ingredients. Refined plant ingredients may not have a lower impact than fish-based ingredients (particularly on land use). In addition, the use of raw mussels was only possible because sea bream are able to crush mussel shells for ingestion. We have highlighted a trade-off between the reduction of traditional fish ingredients (fish meal and fish oil) and the ability to handle huge quantities of fresh material.
SIMTAP systems can be considered an improvement on conventional aquaculture systems from an environmental point of view. However, particular attention needs to be paid to energy and feed use.

The SIMTAP project represents a step forward in the definition of new sustainable systems for aquaculture, and in general for the provision of sustainable food. The building of new circular systems requires time to both understand and optimise the separated compartments and the whole loop. At this stage, SIMTAP systems confirm their ability to reuse nutrient by producing a variety of products, adding value to the initial nutrient input provided to fish. The trade-off between the environmental and economic benefits and the energy cost induced has to be treated. In particular, the levels of production of the different compartments of the system has to be established, as the yields are key points in the environmental performances of technology intensive systems. The energy consumption has also to be addressed in quantity but also in quality, as different “green” sources can be considered (solar, wind power…), in order to decrease the carbon footprint of the production.
As feed is one the main contributors to environmental impacts of fish farming, the composition of the fish diet is another key point. The recycling of nutrient inside SIMTAP systems can be way, as well as the search for local resources available. Therefore, circularity can be considered not only at the SIMTAP system scale, but also at the territorial level, including other aquatic or agriculture value chains. The two levels of optimisation has to be considered as well as the practicability (and the associated costs) of mobilizing the resources.

Barbaresi, A.; Agrusti, M.; Ceccarelli, M.; Bovo, M.; Tassinari, P.; Torreggiani, D. A method for the validation of measurements collected by different monitoring systems applied to aquaculture processing plants. Biosyst. Eng. 2022, 223, 30–41.
Bacenetti, J.; F, H.G.; Facchinetti, D.; Parolini, M. Approaches to Tackle Emerging Challenges in European Aquaculture. 16th International Conference on Environmental Science and Technology – CEST 2019, 3–4. Rhodes, Greece, 4-7 September 2019
Barbaresi, A.; Bibbiani, C.; Bovo, M.; Benni, S.; Santolini, E.; Tassinari, P.; Agrusti, M.; Torreggiani, D. A Smart Monitoring System for Self-sufficient Integrated Multi-Trophic AquaPonic. 2020 IEEE Int. Work. Metrol. Agric. For. MetroAgriFor 2020 - Proc. 2020, 175–179.
Ciurli, A.; Modeo, L.; Pardossi, A.; Chiellini, C. Multidisciplinary integrated characterization of a native Chlorella-like microalgal strain isolated from a municipal landfill leachate. Algal Res. 2021, 54.
Costantini M., Zoli M., Rossi L., Bibbiani C, Bacenetti J. (2022). Environmental impact of fish farming cages in different production and management scenarios. 12th International AIIA Conference: Biosystems Engineering towards the Green Deal. Improving the resilience of agriculture, forestry and food systems in the post-Covid era. September 19-22, 2022 Palermo – Italy.
Féon, S. Le; Dubois, T.; Jaeger, C.; Wilfart, A.; Akkal-Corfini, N.; Bacenetti, J.; Costantini, M.; Aubin, J. DEXIAQUA, a model to assess the sustainability of aquaculture systems: Methodological development and application to a french salmon farm. Sustainaibility. 2021, 13,
Bacenetti, J., S. Le Féon, T Dubois, C. Jaeger, A. Wilfart, N.A. Corfini, G. Coppola, M Costantini, J. Aubin. (2021). A model to assess the sustainability of aquaculture systems: first results from the SIMTAP project. Aquaculture Europe 2021. Funchal, 4-10 October 2021.
Michele Zoli, Lorenzo Rossi, Michele Costantini, Baldassare Fronte, Carlo Bibbiani, Jacopo Bacenetti. (2022). Life cycle assessment of an Italian off-shore aquaculture plant. Aquaculture Europe 2022. Rimini 27-30 September 2022.
Puccinelli, M.; Carmassi, G.; Botrini, L.; Bindi, A.; Rossi, L.; Fierro-Sañudo, J.F.; Pardossi, A.; Incrocci, L. Growth and Mineral Relations of Beta vulgaris var. cicla and Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima Cultivated Hydroponically with Diluted Seawater and Low Nitrogen Level in the Nutrient Solution. Horticulturae 2022, 8.
Puccinelli, M.; Fierro-Sañudo, J.F.; Bibbiani, C.; Fronte, B.; Maibam, C.; Dubois, T.; Pardossi, A.; Incrocci, L.; Rossi, L. Multi-Criteria DEXi Analysis for the Selection of Crop Species for Saltwater Aquaponics. Horticulturae 2022, 8, 1–18.
Rossi L. et al. Aquaponics: challenges and opportunities for commercial application. Book chapter in «Developing circular agricultural production systems (ed. Prof Barbara Amon)« 2023 (in press)
Rossi, L.; Bibbiani, C.; Fierro-Sañudo, J.F.; Maibam, C.; Incrocci, L.; Pardossi, A.; Fronte, B. Selection of marine fish for integrated multi-trophic aquaponic production in the Mediterranean area using DEXi multi-criteria analysis. Aquaculture 2021, 535.
Zoli M., Costantini M., Le Féon S., Dubois T, Jaeger C., Wilfart A., Corfini N.A., Bacenetti J., Aubin J. (2022). Development of a model for a triple layer sustainability assessment of aquaculture. Convegno Associazione Rete Italiana LCA «La sostenibilità nel contesto del PNRR: il contributo della Life Cycle Assessment« 2022. ISSN 9791221004588. Palermo, 22-24 giugno 2022.
Zoli M., Rossi L. Costantini M., Bacenetti J. (2022) Life cycle assessment (LCA) of different aquaculture systems: preliminary results from the SIMTAP project. III convegno AISSA-Under40, “La ricerca scientifica nel processo di transizione ecologica in agricoltura”, Bolzano, 14–15 Luglio 2022.
Zoli M., Rossi L. Costantini M., Bacenetti J., Fronte B., Bibbiani C., Life cycle assessment of seabream and seabass farming in offshore cages in Tuscany (Central Italy). ECSA 59. Using the best scientific knowledge for the sustainable management of estuaries and coastal seas 2022. 5-8 September 2022, San Sebastian, Spain.
Zoli M., Rossi L. Costantini M., Bacenetti J., Fronte B., Bibbiani C, (2022). Life cycle assessment of different Italian offshore aquaculture plants. 13th International Conference on Life Cycle Assessment of Food 2022 (LCA Foods 2022): On “The role of emerging economies in global food security”. 12-14 October 2022, Lima, Peru (hybrid conference).
Zoli M., Rossi L. Costantini M., Fronte B., Bibbiani C, Bacenetti J. (2022) Life cycle assessment nell’acquacoltura: caso studio di un impianto off-shore nel centro Italia. Convegno Associazione Rete Italiana LCA «La sostenibilità nel contesto del PNRR: il contributo della Life Cycle Assessment« 2022. ISSN 9791221004588. Palermo, 22-24 giugno 2022.
Zoli M., Rossi L. Costantini M., Fronte B., Bibbiani C., Bacenetti J. Quantification and characterization of the environmental impact of sea bream and sea bass production in Italy. Cleaner Environmental Systems 9 (2023) 100118.
Zoli M., Rossi L., Bibbiani C, Bacenetti J. Life cycle assessment of seabass and seabream production in the Mediterranean area: a critical review. Aquaculture 573 (2023) 739580
Jaeger C., Gayet V., Aubin J. (2021). Associating seabream, oyster, clam and shrimp in a earthen pond loop: towards an environmentally friendly system, Aquaculture Europe 2021. Funchal, 4-10 October 2021.
Jaeger C., Corraze G., Gayet V., Terrier F., Aubin J. (2022). Feeding seabream in substituting fishmeal and fish oil by fresh mussel and feed based on vegetal resources. Aquaculture Europe 2022. Rimini 27-30 September 2022.
Aubin j., Latourre Q., Conti F., Jaeger C., Gayet V. (2022) Environmental performances of seabream-oyster-clam-shrimp IMTA : the life cycle assessment point of view. Aquaculture Europe 2022. Rimini 27-30 September 2022.
Aubin, J., Q. Latourre, F. Conti, C. Jaeger, and V. Gayet. (2022). Performances Environnementales d'un Système Amti Daurades-Huîtres-Palourdes-Crevettes. Journées de la Recherche Piscicole Française. Paris, 05-06 Juillet 2022.

Aubin, J., S. Le Féon, T. Dubois, C. Jaeger, Q. Latourre, A. Wilfart, V. Gayet, et al. (2022) Dexiaqua, Un Outil Multicritères Pour L'évaluation De La Durabilité Des Élevages Aquacoles. Journées de la Recherche Piscicole Française. Paris, 05-06 Juillet 2022.

The objective of this project is to develop, in different climate and production contexts, an ecosystem-based approach for marine fish production and crop cultivation, in a circular economy perspective. The project will develop and test a Self-sufficient Integrated Multi-Trophic AquaPonic (SIMTAP) system combining saltwater hydroponic production in greenhouses and in-land aquaculture. SIMTAP will make use of different cultivation units for primary producers (plants, algae), fish (e.g. sea bream, sea bass, flat fish, mullets, etc.), and deposit/filter feeders (e.g. bloodworms and mussels), which are all interconnected, in a closed re-circulating system. In this system, the wastes from one level of the multi-trophic cultivation system are recycled and become the inputs (e.g. fertilizer, feed) for another. Enhancing the integration, SIMTAP enables the reduction of the environmental impact of the food production-chain. Moreover, SIMTAP can re-use brackish water from open-loop crop soilless systems, in a cascade effect acting as a bioremediation/wastewater treatment of effluents from greenhouse cultivations, or other brackish wastewater, and as a recycling of nutrients, closing the SIMTAP cycle. SIMTAP systems will be developed and tested in different Mediterranean contexts, considering different technological levels and potential integration with the existing greenhouses hydroponic productions and aquaculture systems, thus allowing to create employment, contribute to a balanced territorial development and reduce the environmental impact of fish feed production and hydroponics. Moreover, the project aims to experimentally test the effectiveness and performance of SIMTAP systems in terms of food production and quality, energy, water and other resource supply and consumption. LCA, LCC, SLCA energy and emergy assessment of SIMTAP will be also performed, and user’s manuals, guidelines and supports to policies will be provided.