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Food security is priority in the international agenda. Currently, Cuba imports 70% of its food and agricultural products and goods, being vulnerable to international factors and natural elements. The objective of this project is to strengthen the Cuban food production sector through three interlinked research-based activities and one capacity building component:

• Optimization and recovery of resources in the food production chain;
• Food diversification through intensive urban aquaculture with resources recovered in the food production chain;
• Nutrient, energy recovery and wastewater reuse from food industry wastewater systems;
• Transfer of the knowledge generated in the three research-based activities into undergraduate and graduate lecturing material to favor long-term sustainability.

EXPECTED

RESULTS

Implementation of cleaner production, resource optimization and recovery practices in the food production sector in Cuba.
This research activity will assess food processing plants from representative Cuban processing chains to determine the potential for (i) resources optimization (raw materials/energy), (ii) emissions reduction, and (iii) resources recovery (nutrients/energy) for the preparation of agricultural and aquaculture products.

1. Application of intensive urban aquaculture in novel recirculation systems.
2. To maximize fish production through intensive aquaculture by applying an environmentally-friendly compact closed recirculation system and assessing the feasibility of producing fish feed with recovered wastes from the food industry. Key research aspects are: (i) optimization of the wastewater treatment process from the recirculation system Food diversification through the introduction and application of intensive urban aquaculture in novel recirculation systems operated with resources recovered in the food production chains.
3. Optimization of food industry wastewater treatment. To improve the performance of wastewater treatment plants from the food industry aiming at maximizing the recovery of resources for their further reuse and reclamation in agriculture and the food production sector.
4. Capacity building through education and training

To strengthen the capabilities of end users (local farmers and fish farmers) and Cuban professionals from the food industry on integrated resources management towards resource recovery for food production and environmental preservation transfer of the knowledge generated in the three research-based activities into undergraduate and graduate lecturing material to favor long-term sustainability.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

Partners

IHE Delft Institute for Water Education (IHE) (Project leader), Cuban Association of Animal Production (ACPA), Food Industry Research Institute (IIIA), Center for Aquaculture preparation Mamposton (EDTA), Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology from Zagreb University (PBT).

Budget

Total: 1,100,555 EUR    

EC contribution (75%): 825 416 EUR

Co-funding needed: 275 139 EUR

DURATION

48 months