ALMAPONIA Operational Group: Innovative national platform and network to validate and transfer regenerative aquaponics solutions for sustainable and resilient agriculture.

ALMAPONIA will validate up to four aquaponics models adapted to real-world profiles: commercial, diversified, social, and urban-peri-urban. The result will be a practical reference for determining which system best suits the user, scale, product, and location. For farmers, entrepreneurs, and social organizations, this will reduce initial trial and error and facilitate decisions regarding investment, design, and management. The main recommendation is to use these models as a preliminary guide before implementing a personal system, comparing technical requirements, estimated costs, potential products, and level of complexity. Their added value lies in helping to diversify activities with a more realistic foundation, less uncertainty, and greater replicability.

ALMAPONIA will launch three pilot automated aquaponics systems in Catalonia and Malaga and will technically define an inclusive system for Ávila. The practical outcome will be to verify, under real-world conditions, how the sensors work, which parameters should be monitored, and how to improve daily management with alerts and remote tracking. For producers and technicians, the main advantage will be having access to proven solutions, with less improvisation and greater control over water, temperature, oxygen, incidents, and overall management. The recommendation is to use these pilots as a benchmark for new installations, reducing startup failures, improving technical traceability, optimizing monitoring, and facilitating scaling up with safer and more efficient criteria. This will help implement systems with greater operational control and a better foundation for decision-making.

ALMAPONIA will develop a web-based digital platform that will bring together the National Aquaponics Network, pilot nodes, training resources, technical materials, and basic monitoring tools in one place. The practical result will be to organize currently scattered knowledge and facilitate access to useful information for implementing or improving aquaponics systems. For farmers, technicians, and entrepreneurs, the main advantage will be having a simple tool to consult references, learn from real-world cases, review indicators, and find technical support. The recommendation is to use the platform as an entry point to the sector, to compare nodes, access materials, follow basic operating information, and locate advisory resources. Its added value lies in improving digitalization, saving time in the search for reliable information, and strengthening the practical transfer of knowledge.

ALMAPONIA will launch a multi-channel training program for at least 100 participants, with content tailored to farmers, fish farmers, technicians, entrepreneurs, and community groups. The result will be a practical training program for implementing and managing aquaponic systems more safely. For the end user, the main advantage will be learning from validated, real-world models, combining online training, in-person sessions, and applied materials. It is recommended to use this program before investing in or redesigning a farm, as it will provide a better understanding of the technical requirements, work organization, product options, and basic implementation steps. Its added value lies in reducing management errors, improving technical autonomy, and facilitating more informed and viable decisions.

ALMAPONIA will consolidate a functional aquaponics innovation network with at least four active and connected nodes. The practical result will be to transform isolated experiences into a useful structure for exchange, support, and knowledge transfer. For farmers, technicians, entrepreneurs, and interested organizations, this will facilitate access to common protocols, indicators, shared references, and potential partnerships. The main recommendation is to use the network as a support space for implementing or improving aquaponics systems, avoiding starting from scratch and leveraging proven knowledge. Its added value lies in reducing fragmentation within the sector, connecting users with other nodes, facilitating technical and commercial collaborations, and strengthening cooperation with AKIS and CAP networks. In practice, it will allow easier access to contacts, references, and support for new initiatives.

ALMAPONIA will design and validate a methodology for progressively adapting aquaponics to social and urban contexts, with a special focus on third-sector organizations and vulnerable groups. The result will be a practical foundation for planning future inclusive projects based on accessibility, training, and viability criteria. For social organizations, municipalities, and technical teams, the main advantage will be having a useful protocol before implementing a system, allowing for a better fit between the solution and the target group, the available space, and the support resources. It is recommended to use this methodology as a preliminary guide to avoid improvisation and more clearly define objectives, resources, and implementation steps. Its added value lies in opening new opportunities for employment, training, and inclusion through aquaponics.

ALMAPONIA will develop an aquaponics quality seal with basic technical criteria, a visual identity, and an initial pre-accreditation proposal. The practical result will be a common reference for presenting aquaponics systems in a clearer, more recognizable, and professional manner. For producers, developing hubs, and new initiatives, the main advantage will be improved trust, differentiation, and communication of the product and system's value. It is recommended to use this seal to establish minimum requirements, strengthen the project's image, and prepare future market strategies, visibility, and industry validation. Its added value lies in helping to position aquaponics as a serious, traceable activity with growth potential, while also facilitating a better presentation to clients, partners, and public entities.

ALMAPONIA will develop an organizational model and a legal roadmap for the future National Aquaponics Network. The result will be a clear proposal outlining how the network can operate, how the nodes can be coordinated, and what steps would be necessary to ensure its continuity after the project. For farmers, businesses, social organizations, and promoters, the main advantage will be a better understanding of how to integrate into a common structure and what cooperation opportunities it can offer. The recommendation is to use this roadmap as a basis for future alliances, memberships, or new collective initiatives. Its added value lies in providing greater stability to the sector, facilitating joint representation, and creating more robust conditions for technology transfer, funding, and scaling up. It will also help plan the network's continuity on a more realistic and structured basis.

ALMAPONIA will launch an initial communication strategy to clearly explain what aquaponics is, the opportunities it offers, and how it can be applied in different regions and to various user profiles. The practical outcome will be a unified project identity, with simple messaging, visual materials, and active channels to raise the network's profile from the outset. For farmers, technicians, social organizations, and other potential users, the main advantage will be a better understanding of the value of aquaponics before committing to new initiatives or making decisions. It is recommended to use these materials and messages as a basic reference for presenting the model, sharing it locally, and facilitating initial contacts and collaborations. Its added value lies in reducing initial misunderstandings and making innovation more accessible from the very beginning.

ALMAPONIA will maintain a continuous and coordinated digital presence to enhance the project's visibility and solidify aquaponics as a viable technical alternative. The practical result will be consistent digital communication, including newsletters, publications on industry platforms, audiovisual content, and an active presence on social media. This will allow users to follow the project's progress and share its results with professional audiences. For farmers, technicians, entrepreneurs, and other interested organizations, the main advantage will be easy access to up-to-date, understandable, and useful information on models, advancements, and opportunities within the sector. It is recommended to use these channels to stay informed about new developments, identify relevant resources, and remain connected to the network and the CAP, AKIS, and EIP-Agri ecosystems. The added value lies in expanding the project's reach and strengthening its position within the sector.

ALMAPONIA will conduct in-person activities in the areas of the participating hubs to showcase aquaponic systems directly and provide a first-hand, hands-on experience with this innovation. The practical outcome will be to bring aquaponics closer to the local community through demonstration days, introductory workshops, activities tailored to local audiences, and short audiovisual materials for each hub. For farmers, technicians, students, community organizations, and individuals interested in starting a business, the main advantage will be gaining firsthand knowledge of how the models work, resolving doubts, and better assessing their potential local application. Participants are encouraged to take advantage of these activities to identify opportunities, evaluate the viability of the model in each context, and build relationships with local stakeholders. The added value lies in strengthening community ownership of the project and facilitating future replication based on visible and local experiences.

ALMAPONIA will strengthen its institutional and sectoral knowledge transfer through a technical results package, participation in strategic events, and the organization of the Aquaponics Living Lab as its final national event. The practical outcome will be to make the project's progress available to AKIS and CAP networks, government agencies, technology centers, agricultural vocational training programs, universities, and other key stakeholders, facilitating its validation and scalability. For industry professionals and interested organizations, the main advantage will be access to useful materials, the opportunity to learn about results in a demonstrative environment, and the chance to establish connections with technical and institutional agents. It is recommended to use this technical package and the Living Lab to compare proposals, identify partnerships, and prepare future initiatives or continuation projects. Its added value lies in strengthening the project's national and European reach and improving its real-world knowledge transfer capacity.

ALMAPONIA will generate technical publications and a final digital dossier to compile and disseminate the most useful lessons learned from the project. The practical outcome will be the availability of clear and transferable materials on models, solutions, technical references, and best practices developed at the project's hubs. For technicians, fish farmers, consultants, rural innovators, and other professionals in the sector, the main advantage will be access to organized and applicable information without having to rely on scattered sources. It is recommended that these materials be used as a basis for designing, adapting, or improving future aquaponics initiatives, comparing approaches, and reducing planning errors. Their added value lies in facilitating replicability, strengthening the professionalization of the sector, and transforming the project's experience into valuable resources for training, consulting, and decision-making.