Can Algae from Baltic Beaches Support Agriculture? ECONUT Conference at Gdańsk Tech
On June 17th, from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM, an international conference ECONUT dedicated to the use of biomass washed up on Baltic beaches will take place at Gdańsk Tech. The event will be held in the Hydromechanics building, no. 11, conducted in English, and participation is free of charge. For organizational reasons, prior registration is required.
On June 17th, from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM, an international conference ECONUT dedicated to the use of biomass washed up on Baltic beaches will take place at Gdańsk Tech. The event will be held in the Hydromechanics building, no. 11, conducted in English, and participation is free of charge. For organizational reasons, prior registration is required.
Scientists and experts from Poland, Sweden, Germany, Lithuania, and Latvia will demonstrate how so-called beach wrack can support soil quality improvement, fertilizer production, dune protection, and the development of a circular economy.
The conference "ECONUT: Nutrient Recycling for Regional Sustainability" will summarize an international project implemented under the Interreg South Baltic program. Its aim is to develop practical methods for recovering nutrients from biomass originating from coastal areas, primarily from algae and organic matter washed ashore by the sea.
For coastal municipalities, biomass accumulating on beaches often represents specific organizational challenges and costs related to its removal. The ECONUT project shows that the same material can be regarded not only as waste but also as a valuable resource that, after proper processing, can be used, among others, in agriculture, land reclamation, urban greenery, and activities related to the protection of coastal ecosystems.
From Beach Waste to Resource
The conference will present the results of the ECONUT project, experiences from pilot activities, and examples of solutions that can be used by local governments, farmers, the private sector, and coastal communities.
The event program will include topics such as the ecology of beach wrack, the composition of beach biomass, its significance for dune biodiversity, and the possibility of using it as a source of nutrients. Experts will also discuss composting techniques, the use of biomass in agriculture and urban greenery, the potential of new types of fertilizers, and the impact of such solutions on the resilience of coastal areas to climate change.
The detailed conference program is available in the attachment.
Gdańsk Tech in the International Project
Representatives of European institutions, international organizations, public administration, the private sector, and the scientific community will participate in the event. Among the speakers will be experts specializing in circular economy, soil health, coastal protection, climate change adaptation, and nature-based solutions.
Gdańsk Tech will be represented in the conference program by, among others, PhD Piotr Rybarczyk and Prof. Jacek Antonkiewicz. Their presentations will address the analysis of nutrient content in beach biomass and its potential applications in agriculture and urban greenery design.
The conference will be an opportunity to discuss how scientific research results can respond to specific environmental challenges of the Baltic Sea region. The ECONUT project demonstrates that biomass removed from beaches can be reused, supporting Baltic Sea protection, soil quality improvement, and the development of coastal regions.