Development of a Novel Recirculatory Multitrophic Peatland System for the Production of High-Value Bio-Based Products at Scale Embracing Zero Waste and Pollution Principles to Unlock Sustainable Development Goals

This case study describes the novel development and demonstration of commercial, green, bio-based products using a peatland based recirculating integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) system in the Irish Midlands. This site enables the transition from traditional peat harvesting for energy generation towards alternative sustainable employment. The system effectively addresses sustainable in-land freshwater aquaculture development. It also demonstrates value-chain products at scale for new feeds arising from the fish waste-stream by exploiting cascades from the fish culture waste-stream (bio-fertiliser) for cultivating duckweed and macroalgae. These plants can then be bio-refined and valorised to produce new products. The system also provides a circular demonstrator site that will facilitate industry and entrepreneurs to develop and test new innovations and ideas. By providing this open-access site to support companies in testing, financial constraints such as access to specialist equipment and technical expertise will be off-set thus enabling entrepreneurs and industry to develop new commercial products at scale. Additionally, the outputs from this system will help address and inform several United Nations sustainable development goals.