Reinforcing international cooperation on sustainable aquaculture production with countries from South-East Asia

Deadline: Feb 17, 2016  
CALL EXPIRED

Topic Description

With 90% of all world aquaculture production based in Asia, and with Europe importing close to 70% of its seafood (in particular from South-East Asia[[South-East Asian countries: Indonesia, East Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, East Timor, Brunei, Christmas Island, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, West Malaysia, and Vietnam.]]), both regions have an interest in working together to develop sustainable solutions, since production has to nearly double in the next decade to meet the increasing seafood market demand. Sustainable aquaculture production is a major challenge for global seafood security and safety. In order to provide greater benefits for the EU and South-East Asian countries and to make future aquaculture sustainable, more work is needed on technology innovation, resource efficiency, reduced environmental impact, harmonised standards and marketing.

Proposals should draw up a plan to launch a multi-stakeholder platform to reinforce international cooperation between Europe and South-East Asian countries on food security and safety with specific emphasis on sustainable aquaculture production and contributing to European competitiveness. The multi-stakeholder platform should support structuring new networks and partnerships between industrial players aiming to enhance business opportunities and the up-take of innovations in promising aquaculture domains. Those participating in the platform should also contribute to the development of common standards for appropriate environmental planning/zoning, increased food safety, and improved farming governance. Additionally, there should be particular focus on reinforcing capacity building by aligning European training programmes, including through industrial apprenticeship opportunities and networking with South-East Asian partners.

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of up to EUR 2 million would allow this challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude the submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

Projects funded under this topic will by default participate in the Pilot on Open Research Data in Horizon 2020, with the option to opt-out, as described in the introduction.

To contribute to the creation of a long-term partnership between Europe and South-East Asian countries on sustainable aquaculture and to reinforce the mutual benefits of science diplomacy between the regions, proposals will have to:

• Contribute to common standard setting and legislation, particularly around ecosystem-based farming.
• Facilitate the creation of business opportunities for industrial partnerships between Europe and South-East Asian countries.
• Reduce risks to animal and human health and thus increase EU consumer’s confidence in seafood products.
• Consolidate EU-South-East Asian education and training networks.
• Contribute to reinforce targeted international cooperation on sustainable aquaculture production between EU and South East-Asian countries, supporting the EU-ASEAN Partnership[[In 2007, the Nuremberg Declaration on an Enhanced EU-ASEAN Partnership was signed at the 16th Ministerial Meeting, in Nuremberg. In 2012, Foreign Ministers of ASEAN and the EU adopted the Bandar Seri Begawan Plan of Action 2013-2017, defining ASEAN-EU cooperation in the next five years.]] and the underlying EU-ASEAN High-level Policy Dialogue on science, technology and innovation.
• Improve the professional skills and competences for those working and being trained to work within the blue economy.

This activity directly aimed at supporting the promotion of coherent and effective cooperation with third countries is excluded from the delegation to REA and will be implemented by the Commission services.