AE2026 Plenary 3. Thursday, Oct 1
The European Aquaculture Society is pleased to announce the three Plenary speakers for Aquaculture Europe 2026 (AE2026), taking place 28 September–1 October 2026 in Ljubljana, Slovenia, under the theme “Aquaculture in Global Change.” Across three sessions, the speakers will address the sector's resilience to climate change, how aquaculture's story can reach wider audiences, and the pathway to net zero for EU aquaculture production.
Plenary 3: “Towards Net Zero by 2050 and Energy Efficient EU Aquaculture Production”
Thursday, 1 October, 11:30 - 12:30 | 11:30 - 12:30
Callum Howard, Senior Consultant, MRAG, UK
Room: Marmona 1+2
The climate crisis poses fundamental challenges for aquaculture, reshaping not only what, how, and where we farm, but placing the sector under pressure to meet legally mandated greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets. Meeting these targets demands cross-cutting action across the entire value chain, requiring coordinated efforts from researchers, industry, and policymakers alike.
While viable solutions exist to reduce GHG emissions from aquaculture, achieving widespread adoption remains complex. High investment costs and operational demands present particular difficulties for an industry dominated, at EU level, by SMEs. Other promising solutions remain confined to pilots or research projects due to regulatory and political barriers and inadequate knowledge transfer mechanisms. Low-trophic aquaculture is frequently presented as a panacea and it can deliver genuine environmental benefits, but realising its potential at scale requires overcoming significant barriers related to market development, spatial planning, and regulatory frameworks.
This presentation examines the pathways to achieving net zero in EU aquaculture, drawing on recent European Commission studies on emission reduction costs and pathways, and challenges and opportunities for the implementation of lower trophic production in Europe. It covers recommendations for carbon neutrality pathways as well as discussing policy, regulatory, and economic barriers that must be overcome to enable change.
Callum Howard is a Senior Consultant at MRAG, specialising in bridging research, policy, and commercial practice. His work focuses on advancing sustainable aquaculture technologies, supporting evidence-based policy, and strengthening the commercial viability of aquatic food systems.
Callum holds a PhD and MSc in Aquaculture from the University of Stirling's Institute of Aquaculture. He has since worked across Europe, Africa, Asia, North America, and the Middle East, advising clients including the World Bank, UNIDO, the European Commission, and private sector investors on projects ranging from GHG reduction pathways and digital transformation strategies to large-scale investment readiness and practical aquaculture training.
He is a committed advocate for aquaculture's potential to generate livelihoods and address food and nutritional insecurity worldwide and is dedicated to making that potential a commercial and operational reality.
Join us in Ljubljana
AE2026 takes place at the Gospodarsko Razstavišče Exhibition and Congress Centre in Ljubljana, Slovenia, from 28 September to 1 October 2026. Full programme and registration details are available at: