Restoration of flood-degraded ecosystems with synergistic, tailored bio-/nature-based remediation of pollutant mixtures (FLOWSAFE)

More than 60% of the EU’s land surface is degraded, with pollution and increasingly frequent floods placing growing pressure on rivers, wetlands and surrounding habitats. The new FLOWSAFE project aims to address this challenge through an innovative combination of nature-based and biological solutions that clean both water and sediments simultaneously. The principal investigator of the project at the University of Valencia (UV) is Professor of Ecology Antonio Camacho, from the Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology. Within the broad team of researchers at the University of Valencia, the distinguished researcher Andreu Rico, also from the Cavanilles Institute, will lead the ecotoxicology trials. The consortium comprises 13 European organisations coordinated by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), which receive funding from the European Commission under Horizon Europe, the framework programme for research and innovation for the period 2021–2027.

Using native plants, beneficial microorganisms and sustainable biomaterials, the initiative will target a wide range of contaminants, including microplastics, pesticides, pharmaceuticals and PFAS (Synthetic chemical substances which started to be produced in the 50s). Advanced sensors, Earth observation data and artificial intelligence will help predict pollution risks and guide rapid responses after floods. By 2050, FLOWSAFE hopes to restore 20,000 hectares of degraded sites, removing more than 80% of mixed pollutants while boosting biodiversity and ecosystem resilience.

More information: antonio.camacho@uv.es

Links: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101291038

Programme: HORIZON.2.6 - Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment