Þekkingarsetur Ölfus Cluster
Terraforming Life aims to develop a new method for producing fertilizer and biogas from organic waste generated by land-based aquaculture and agriculture. The project is a collaborative initiative involving First Water, the Icelandic Farmers’ Association, Orkidea, Ölfus Cluster, SMJ from the Faroe Islands, and Blue Ocean Technology from Norway, and it has received funding from the European Union’s Environment and Climate Programme.
The future of agriculture depends on progress in environmental sustainability. Through collaboration and innovation, we can ensure a sustainable future for agriculture.
Terraforming LIFE’s objective is to design and develop new technologies and methods to create an Integrated Agriculture Aquaculture system where aquaculture, agriculture farmers, and agriculturists are at the heart of a circular economy.
While making fertilizer as superfood for mother earth the whole project will have powerful and positive impact on numerous environmental issues.
A combination of processed sludge and animal manure will be transported by a mobile treatment unit to a bio-fertilizer plant. It will be boosted with digestate from any dead-fish that unavoidably perish during the rearing, and eventually dried to create a powerful natural fertilizer and biogas.
This project optimizes a new water recycling technology (Sideflow), complementary to the “Flow-Through System with Reuse” (FTS-R) aquaculture system.
Both CAPEX and OPEX will be below any other high-tech aquaculture system while maximising the amount of nutrients of fish sludge.
Click here to learn more about the project on Terraforming’s website!
First Water was founded by a select group of entrepreneurs with extensive experience in agriculture, construction, geothermal energy utilization, business, and finance.
The company has completed an environmental impact assessment, received regulatory approval from the authorities in Ölfus, and secured land and a hatchery facility that is already in operation.
The Farmers Association of Iceland represents Icelandic farmers and works to protect and promote the interests of agriculture.
The association plays a key role in the project by organizing the collection of livestock manure, establishing agreements with farmers for manure delivery, and overseeing the project’s communication and outreach activities.
Orkídea is a collaborative initiative aimed at strengthening innovation and investment in food production and biotechnology in South Iceland.
Orkídea is owned by Landsvirkjun, the Association of Local Authorities in South Iceland, the Agricultural University of Iceland, and the Ministry of the Environment, Energy and Climate.
SMJ places strong emphasis on quality-assured consulting and the continuous development of knowledge. The company has expanded its advisory services and today possesses specialized expertise across a wide range of fields, including aquaculture.
In recent years, SMJ has particularly strengthened its consulting services for the aquaculture industry, providing integrated advisory solutions that combine biological and technical expertise.
Ölfus Cluster is composed of a select group of individuals with extensive experience from industry, public administration, research, and academia. The group shares a common vision of strengthening and supporting the region’s economy, guided by the principles of the green and blue economy.
Co-funded by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are, however, solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.