FERRO Project launches with ambitious goals to restore European lakes
We are delighted to announce the launch of a new scientific project on freshwater lake restoration funded by the Horizon Europe. FERRO project attempts to address a major problem of European lakes - eutrophication. The Biology Centre is one of the seven partners from six European member states who will work towards ambitious goals for freshwater restoration.
Orlík Reservoir in the Vltava river, Czech Republic. Photo: Petr Znachor, BC CAS
Eutrophication is a major problem causing the poor ecological status of European lakes with its severe impacts being enhanced by climate change. At the same time, eutrophication could present an opportunity for tackling the issue of the rapidly depleting phosphate (P) reserves which threaten global food security. A vast amount of P and other nutrients are transported and accumulate in lakes, making them a nutrient-rich reserve, as observed by the frequent algal blooms in many lakes.
FERRO (Fostering European lake restoration by nutrient removal, recovery, and reuse: integrated catchment and in-lake solutions) attempts to address eutrophication and global P scarcity through sustainable, circular solutions to both challenges. The project will develop a next-generation lake restoration approach by combining targeted restoration techniques with nutrient recovery and recycling to achieve improved ecological status of lakes, support a circular economy, climate adaptation, support food production, promote biodiversity, and boost ecosystem services provision.
Seven partners from six European member states and associated countries are leading the project. They first met during the FERRO kick-off meeting on June 6-7, 2024 in Lahti, Finland. From Earth Observation, through biochemistry, hydrobiology, plant science, and sonar sediment monitoring, the partners from Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Syddansk Universitet - University of Southern Denmark, University of Helsinki, the Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brockmann Consult GmbH, Brockmann Geomatics and Pensoft Publishers showcased and held inspiring discussions on the topics that will be covered over the next four years.
The task of the Biology Centre will be to test the removal of phosphorus from the deep parts of valley reservoirs using a suitably selected sorbent. Other project partners will test the use of sorbent enriched with captured phosphorus as an agricultural fertiliser.
This project receives funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No 101157743.
