Thank you to all participants of the CONTRA final conference “Converting beach wrack into a resource and asset – towards sustainable solutions for beach wrack use“, 1-2 June 2021
Ecologists, entrepreneurs, beach managers, policy makers and other partners from Germany, Poland, Sweden, Estonia, Russia and Denmark attended to showcase beach wrack management, and use options recently implemented in the Baltic Sea Region. Besides environmental aspects of beach wrack, its handling and potential to e.g. mitigate climate change or improve coastal protection, the CONTRA partners informed about technical and business-oriented solutions and gave guidance and recommendations towards the implementation of sustainable solutions
With an interactive panel discussion, breakout sessions with researchers and implementers, and a matchmaking session, the conference was a vivid platform for exchange on challenges, innovative ideas and future cooperation in the field of blue bioeconomy.
Additionally, participants got the chance to actively expand their network in a matchmaking session for new and improved collaborations. The online market place provides brief summaries about presented beach wrack products, services and project ideas.
The Beach Wrack Network, a stakeholder forum for knowledge exchange and collaboration lives on after the project’s lifetime. For more information about the Network and how to join visit www.eucc-d.de/beach-wrack-network.html
Presentations from the CONTRA final conference can be downloaded below:
Day 1 |1 June 2021 (09:00 – 12:30 CET)
Session #1 – Opening
Introduction into the CONTRA project’s scope and aim by Hendrik Schubert, University of Rostock (CONTRA Lead-Partner)
Debate between CONTRA partners about the existing and diverse challenges associated with beach wrack and the potential to convert it into a resource and asset.
Video Greetings by Rüdiger Strempel, Executive Secretary, HELCOM
Session #2 – Beach wrack as a resource
A key note on „Natural life cycle of beach wrack“ by Tiia Möller (University of Tartu, EE), Cintia Organo Quintana (University of Denmark, DK), Jacek Bełdowski and Lech Kotwicki (The Institute of Oceanology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, PL).
Session #3 – Environmental Aspects of Beach Wrack Management
CONTRA partners and external speakers presented sustainable solutions for beach wrack use and management. A common goal of the solutions is to pursue environmental-oriented approaches such as coastal protection or climate change adaptation. Q&A Sessions with presenters in parallel breakout rooms provided the chance to gain detailed information of presented solutions.
WRACOVER – building landfill biocovers out of beach wrack to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions – Køge Municipality, DK, Sara Hillbom Guizani
WRACK4COAST – using beach wrack for dune restoration for coastal protection – Atlantic Branch of Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Kaliningrad, RU
FERTIWRACK – use of reed bed systems for integrated treatment of beach wrack for the production of soil conditioner/fertilizer – Gdańsk University of Technology, PL, Magdalena Gajewska
Beach wrack and the issue of methane release – University of Southern Denmark, DK, Cintia Organo Quintana
COASTAL Biogas – use of cast seaweed to mitigate eutrophication – Baltic Energy Innovation Centre, SE, Jörgen Held
Day 2 |2 June 2021 (09:00 – 14:45 CET)
Session #4 – Value chains of Beach Wrack Management
Value chains and business models of beach wrack management by Jens Almqvist, Krinova Science Park, SE
Framed by a talk from Jens Almqvist (Krinova Science Park, SE) on economic aspects and business models of beach wrack management, CONTRA partners and external speakers presented sustainable solutions for beach wrack use and management with an entrepreneurial focus. Q&A Sessions with presenters in parallel breakout rooms provided the chance to gain detailed information of presented solutions.
WRACK4SOIL – using beach wrack for the production of compost and soil – Hanseatische Umwelt GmbH, DE, Steffen Aldag
BEACH WRACK CONVERSION – process chain of converting beach wrack into carbon-neutral biochar – KS-VTCtech, DE, Timo Garrels
ALREA – guideline for the production of soil amendment (biochar and gasification syngas) and energy recovery out of beach wrack – Linnaeus University, SE, William Hogland
External presentations:
EST-AGAR AS – Extraction of furcelleran from seaweed for food manufacturing, Est-Agar AS, EE, Urmas Pau
COASTGRASS – Using natural fibers i.e. beach wrack and biodegradable plastic for the production of sustainable packaging material, Coastgrass, DK, Malthe Timmermann Larsen
Session #5 – Fishbowl discussion: Beach wrack management challenges
A vivid discussion with CONTRA partners, policy-makers and other stakeholders from the audience highlighted challenges and obstacles of beach wrack management, the market potential of beach wrack based products or relevant policy frameworks.
Session #6 – A look into the future
The CONTRA Lead partner took a look into the future of beach wrack use and management, the main challenges but also the potential to convert beach wrack into a resource and asset. Recommendations for (policy) actions out of the CONTRA project gave guidance to municipalities, entrepreneurs and other practitioners and stakeholders active in the field of beach wrack, it’s use and management.
Beach Wrack Network, Funding Opportunities and Matchmaking – The future starts now!
After the lunch break Jane Hofmann (EUCC – The Coastal Union Germany) introduced the Beach Wrack Network, a stakeholder forum for knowledge exchange and collaboration created by CONTRA that will on after the project’s lifetime.
Hauke Siemen (REM Consult) gave a comprehensive overview on EU Funding opportunities for beach wrack ideas for the upcoming funding period 2021-2027.
Finally, participants got the chance to actively expand their network in a matchmaking session for new and improved collaborations on the following services, products and project ideas:
COASTGRASS, DK – Biodegradable packaging material containing eelgrass
LINNAEUS University, SE – Unmanaged beaches from a climate & land-marine use perspective
STAEMMLER-Erden, DE – Soil and compost based on marine biomass
BRAINBOTICS, DK – Sustainable algae collection using autonomous robots
ISOMORPH srl, IT – Solar heat for transforming beach wrack to solar carbon + Gasifier for beach wrack
AQUAZOSTA® MB Marine Plant Biotechnology, DE – The AQUAZOSTA® Value Chain – Bioeconomy with unique marine flowering plants, especially eelgrass Zostera marina L. from the Baltic Sea
SUBMARINER Network for Blue Growth EEIG, DE – innovative and sustainable uses of marine resources in the Baltic Sea Region and beyond