In August 2023, the research project UrbanAqua was launched in Bremen funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the innovation space Bioeconomy on Marine Sites (BaMS). The aim of the project is to establish an aquaponic pilot plant for the urban circular economy on Acheron's site on Bremen's overseas island.

To achieve this, Bremen-based companies Acheron, Farmcycle GmbH, and Polyplan-Kreikenbaum Group GmbH are collaborating with the renowned research facilities Alfred-Wegener-Institute, Bremerhaven and academia Bremen und Bremerhaven. The overall objective of the consortium is to demonstrate that sustainable production of fish and vegetable products in the middle of the city is feasible through optimal recycling management. This will be achieved by bioconverting nitrogen and phosphorus-containing residues and utilizing locally produced by-products.

The focus of the project is on the development of an aquaponics system for the cultivation of freshwater fish and leafy vegetables, integrating microalgae cultivation, duckweed, and insect farming. Additionally, the project emphasizes associated measurement and control technology, as well as sustainable energy and marketing concepts. By the end of 2025, development should be sufficiently advanced to enable the sustainable production of fresh and healthy food at the model site.