BIOAZUL S.L. 

Portimão municipality, Portugal (city in which the demonstrator is going to be installed). 

Algarve region, Portugal (region in which the demonstrator is going to be installed). 

The project counts with a Portuguese cluster composed of several types of participants: 

• IN LOCO - Associação In Loco, de Intervenção, Formação e Estudos para o Desenvolvimento local (Beneficiary, association, non-profit): local engagement, agri-photovoltaics. São Brás de Alportel, PT. 
• DARIACORDAR - Associação para Recuperação do Desperdício (Beneficiary, association, non-profit): biowaste recircularisation. Lisboa, PT. 
• COOPERNICO - Cooperativa de Desenvolvimento Sustentável C.R.L (Beneficiary, cooperative, non-profit): agri-photovoltaics. Lisboa, PT. 
• MORE - Laboratório Colaborativo Montanhas de Investigação – Associação (Beneficiary, association, non-profit): biophenol extraction. Bragança, PT. 
• IDAD - Instituto do Ambiente e Desenvolvimento, Universidade de Aveiro (Beneficiary, university, non-profit): permits and licenses. Aveiro, PT. 
• REQUIMTE - Rede de Quimica e de Tecnologia Associação (Beneficiary, association, non-profit): contaminants monitoring. Porto, PT. 
• INOVA+ - Innovation Services, S.A. (Beneficiary, SME, for profit): communication, dissemination and exploitation. Matosinhos, PT. 
• CCDR Algarve - Comissão de Coordenação e Desenvolvimento Regional do Algarve (Associated partner, public administration, non-profit): permits and licenses. Faro, PT. 
• CCDR Alentejo - Comissão de Coordenação e Desenvolvimento Regional do Alentejo (Associated partner, public administration, non-profit): replication. Évora, PT. 
• CM Tavira - Município de Tavira (Associated partner, public administration, non-profit): biowaste, water use. Tavira, PT. 
• CM Olhão - Município de Olhão (Associated partner, public administration, non-profit): biowaste, water use. Olhão, PT. 

Project Aim: 

The CisWEFE-NEX project aims to implement a highly integrated circular systemic Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) Nexus solution for regions facing severe water stress. This solution generates long-term systemic benefits by improving the circular use of water, energy, and food resources through innovative technologies and circular models. It focuses on the Portuguese Algarve region as a scalable and replicable model applicable across various European regions of similar characteristics. 

Project Specific Objectives: 

1. Achieve a net positive freshwater balance through innovative reuse of olive mill wastewater and desalination of brackish water, to produce irrigation water, along with table salt and Epsom salt from brine valorisation. 
2. Reduce environmental impacts, such as greenhouse gas emissions by generating renewable energy using agri-photovoltaics and anaerobic digestion systems. 
3. Produce food (crops, shrimp, seaweed) while fostering local resource reuse through regenerative agriculture, biophenol extraction from olive mill waste and integrated multi-trophic aquaculture. 
4. Monitor traditional and emerging pollutants using controlled cavitation. 
5. Integrate data from all subsystems into an artificial intelligence and machine learning driven digital twin monitoring and control platform. 
6. Develop long-term business strategies and plans for scaling and replicating the solution in other regions. 
7. Identify and engage key stakeholders in the development, testing and dissemination of best practices. 

1. Water: Production of reclaimed water for irrigation through brackish water desalination and olive mill water treatment. 
2. Energy: Generation of renewable energy via agri-photovoltaics and anaerobic digestion technologies. 
3. Food: Production of certified organic crops, table salt, Epsom salt, polyphenols, shrimp and seaweed. 
4. Environment: Monitoring of pollutants and preservation of soil. 
5. Scalability: Development of business models, policy recommendations and frameworks for replication in other regions. 

D3.2: Plan for CD&E of Results – PCDER including Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) (final)

Final plan for communication, dissemination and exploitation of the project results. It will include stakeholder/target audience identification and analysis resulting in a Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP), communication and dissemination strategies and channels, visual identity guidelines (including logo, templates, etc.), engagement approaches and evaluation mechanisms and a strategy to support the identification and assessment of the CisWEFE-NEX results. 

D3.3: Multi-lingual Best Practice Handbook

Multi- lingual best practice handbook for land and aquaculture farmers, and saltern and olive mill operators in easy language on how to adapt the findings of the project. 

D4.8: Circular governance models for improved practices of Circular Systemic Solutions (CSSs)

Report on circular governance models for improved practice of circular systemic solutions though a multi-actor and multi-level governance approach.

D4.9: Policy and regulatory framework analysis and advice (initial policy brief)

First policy brief for policy recommendations and specific report feedbacks to EU, national, regional and local policy makers and regulators to ensure evolution of regulations according to the project outcomes at the end of the second reporting period.

D4.10: Policy and regulatory framework analysis and advice (second policy brief)

Second and final policy brief for policy recommendations and specific report feedbacks to EU, national, regional and local policy makers and regulators to ensure evolution of regulations according to the project outcomes at the end of the project. 

D4.11: Stakeholder guidelines on the circular systemic WEFE Nexus demonstrator

Clear and comprehensive guidelines for stakeholders on the circular systemic WEFE Nexus solution adopted based on the results obtained, including strengths and weaknesses experienced. 

D8.3: Report on the contaminants sampling and monitoring programme implementation    . 

Report on the implementation of the contaminants sampling and monitoring programme by the end of the project. 

D9.5: Reports on environmental life cycle assessment (E-LCA), environmental life cycle costing (E-LCC), territorial life cycle assessment (T-LCA), cost-benefit analysis (CBA) and water framework directive (WFD) cost-recovery analysis

Report on the comparative holistic assessment of linear baseline and circular project scenario’s sustainability and profitability for the territory using a set of methodologies based on life cycle approach at territorial scale.   

D10.1: Report on r replicability, scalability and transferability opportunities (including business plans) in the EU and the Mediterranean

Report on the replication strategy of the holistic WEFE Nexus approach, including replicability, scalability and transferability opportunities of the system and subsystems in the EU and the Mediterranean area, including business plans. 

D10.2: CisWEFE-NEX replication handbook or replication/localisation modelling

CisWEFE-NEX replication handbook or replication/localisation modelling, that will report the replicability and transferability opportunities identified, and will also include CE roadmaps and strategies. 

D10.3: Feasibility case studies for four replicator regions

Report on real case scenario feasibility studies (technical feasibility, financial feasibility and operational viability) in areas with severe water stress of the four replicator regions (Alentejo, Andalusia, Central Macedonia and Région Sud). 

D10.4: Knowledge Transfer Plan (KTP)

Plan for the knowledge transfer and widespread uptake of CisWEFE-NEX concepts and project results with respect to their replicability, transferability, and scalability potential (e.g., based on simulations of the digital twin for specific climatic regions or the guideline for replicability, scalability, and transferability)

The solution to be developed within the project has to be disseminated, and it is aimed to be further replicated in similar regions also facing severe water stress. The collaboration with the CCRI office may help us to find future ways of replication or adaptation to other regional circumstances. It may also help us in finding assimilable and/or complementary solutions.