On Thursday, 25 September, the first joint testing with Italian partners within the BIOBASED project was held at the Mariculture Laboratory in Bistrina. During the morning, a field visit was organized where partners were introduced to the experimental system of Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) in the Mali Ston Bay.

IMTA represents a concept of integrated farming of organisms at different trophic levels, where the by-products of one species are used as resources for the growth of others. This approach ensures sustainability, ecosystem balance, and greater production efficiency.

Within the BIOBASED project, shellfish and algae are being jointly cultivated under different experimental conditions in Croatia and Italy. In Mali Ston Bay, researchers from the Department of Applied Ecology, in cooperation with the Dubrovnik-Neretva County Entrepreneurship Center, set up two experimental systems in July this year. Their development will be monitored over a one-year period to determine optimal conditions.

The main goals of this approach are to increase biomass, reduce environmental footprint, and enhance product valorization through new applications in the food and biotechnology industries, where small and medium-sized enterprises play a key role.

In the afternoon, a networking event was held to connect local and cross-border SMEs with the scientific community, during which the first project results were presented. The event was successful, providing an opportunity for exchanging ideas, creating new business contacts, and strengthening cooperation among stakeholders.

The aim of the BIOBASED project is to foster innovation, strengthen cross-border cooperation, and develop sustainable solutions in mariculture, with a focus on the application of biotechnological processes and sustainable use of resources.