Innovative Knowledge Transfer Partnership aims to re-use waste and reduce landfill from fishing nets
Environmental and commercial benefits look set to be achieved via this first of a kind project.
An historic Scottish net manufacturer, W&J Knox, is partnering with Abertay University on an environmentally-friendly new Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project that they hope will divert tonnes of waste away from landfill.
The KTP will see two years of research and development into how leftover fish protein, oil and copper can be salvaged from nets during the washing process, then reused.
With more than 240 years of supplying nets to both the Scottish fishing fleet and the growing aquaculture sector behind it, the Ayrshire company is an industry leader and this project is the first of its kind in Scotland.
Instead of being sent to landfill, tonnes of salvaged protein and oil will be turned into livestock feed for the likes of fish, pigs and chickens.
With grant funding from Innovate UK via the KTP, a researcher will be employed by Abertay to investigate how the useful materials can be extracted from waste cakes produced following the net washing process at W & J Knox’s manufacturing and service base in Kilbirnie.
Principal Investigator on the partnership, Dr Boon-Seang Chu of the Division of Food and Drink, said the project aligns with the Scottish Government’s goal of reducing the percentage of waste going to landfill to just 5% by 2025.
He added: “We are delighted to be partnering with W&J Knox on this innovative KTP, which has the potential to benefit both the environment and the business itself.
“Abertay has a strong track record in research focussing on the reuse of food waste products and this is an area that is going to become increasingly important on both a national and international level in the coming years.”
Dave Hutchens, Managing Director of W&J Knox said: “With the Aquaculture Industry’s plans to increase production significantly by 2030 we are going to have to process more of the waste material that we remove from the nets.
“We need to reduce what we send to landfill and with the assistance of Abertay University and the employment of a KTP Associate we hope to be able to achieve this by developing a method to allow us to recover valuable elements from the waste that can be utilised in other ways.”
Simon Bright, Abertay’s Head of Research Services said: “Over the past couple of years, Abertay has increased its participation in KTPs; which are an essential part of regional and national strategies to promote economic growth.
“Through KTPs we have worked with a wide range of industrial partners including the national air traffic service; food manufacturers; and utility companies; something which demonstrates our commitment to deliver practical solutions to real world problems.”
Gerry Black, a Senior Knowledge Transfer Adviser at the Knowledge Transfer Network – the company that delivers the KTP programme for Innovate UK Рadded: “I am delighted to support this innovative KTP that will deliver significant commercial benefits to W & J Knox and real environmental improvements for the aquaculture industry.  A good example of applying advanced science to real world problems and delivering benefit for all the parties involved.”
KTP aims to help businesses to improve their competitiveness and productivity through the better use of knowledge, technology and skills that reside within the UK knowledge base.  This Knowledge Transfer Partnership project, funded by UK Research and Innovation through Innovate UK, is part of the government’s Industrial Strategy.
Further information about KTPs is available here, and applications for funding are open all year round.