Xylem Innovation Workshop // Water-Energy-Food Nexus: Aquaculture
The Xylem Innovation Workshop on Water-Energy-Food Nexus: Aquaculture is the first Innovation Workshop dedicated to Xylem External Technology Partners and Providers. The Workshop brings together Xylem engineering, procurement and product management community and universities, incubators and suppliers to focus on how to approach the water-energy-food nexus in aquaculture in an interactive and open discussion.
Water is a prerequisite for food production, which also requires nutrients and energy. On the other hand, alternative energy production by biogas plants is based on biomass derived from agriculture. Thus, agricultural food production seems to be the most important integrative part concerning the water-energy-food nexus. Aquaculture is one of the fastest growing agriculture sectors meeting the increasing needs of the rapidly expanding global population for high quality animal proteins. Currently, worldwide production is focused on freshwater aquaculture of fish and is consequently competing for limited freshwater resources. Hence, particularly in the light of future development, aquaculture production is limited in land available for agricultural production and global freshwater reserves. The necessity towards minimising resources (water, nutrient, energy) for meeting sustainability urgently requires the introduction of new recently developed integrative concepts to achieve a sustainable connection of the water-energy-food nexus.
The Workshop will focus on: partnerships, solutions, sharing of tools, indicators and methodologies, and identification of gaps in the technology that need to be addressed. The workshop will facilitate space for the development of collaborative work. It won’t be a conference! Its intended to be a moment when every participant contributes to the discussion, shares knowledge, experiences and needs. And, of course, passion for water and water-related challenges!
Key challenges include: Agriculture will have to produce 30-50% more food by 2030 and aquaculture is one of the sectors growing faster; Primary energy needs will increase by 40% by 2030; Demand for water will exceed global availability by 40% in 2030; Global Ag investment themes (through 2020) – aquaculture.
Where and When
Greentown Labs
444 Somerville Avenue
Somerville, MA 02143
14 June 2018
10:00 AM to 3:30 PM (EDT)
Agenda:
Workshop: 10:00 - 3:30 PM
Break: 3:30 - 5:30 PM
EnergyBar Networking: 5:30 - 8:30 PM
Lunch and drinks will be included!
Organisers
Xylem: Xylem is a leading water technology company committed to "solving water" by creating innovative and smart technology solutions to meet the world's water, wastewater and energy needs. In a world of ever-growing challenges, Xylem delivers innovative water technology solutions throughout the cycle of water. Xylem's technological strength across the life cycle of water is second-to-none. From collection and distribution to reuse and return to nature, their highly efficient water technologies, industrial pumps and application solutions not only use less energy and reduce life-cycle costs, but also promote sustainability.
Greentown Labs: Greentown Labs is the largest cleantech startup incubator in the United States. They enable entrepreneurs to solve the world's biggest energy and environmental challenges by providing access to the community, resources, labs, and funding they need to thrive. Greentown Labs offers nearly 100,000 sq. ft. of prototyping lab, co-located office space, a shared machine shop and electronics lab, and event space for our community of early-stage entrepreneurs to rapidly grow their companies and networks.