Project objectives

The MyPonic project aims to:

1. Promote technological and social innovation in mountain, urban, and rural areas through the adoption of sustainable technologies such as aquaponics, which optimize the use of natural resources and minimize environmental impact.
2. Contribute to the regeneration of historic villages by creating new resilient spaces and planet-friendly structures, such as the Green Pod Educational Lab, which will be at the heart of the project’s educational, cultural, and social activities, serving as a hub for the ecosystem of the emerging open-air museum.
3. Support the circular economy in mountain areas by promoting innovative solutions for resource management and sustainable production of marketable goods such as fish, fruits, vegetables, aromatic herbs, and mountain herbs useful for creating bulk products for cosmetics and nutraceuticals – all outputs of aquaponics systems.
4. Educate and raise awareness within the local community – from schools to businesses – through training activities and workshops on sustainability, innovative agriculture, and environmental resilience.
5. Combat the depopulation of mountain areas by creating job opportunities and encouraging the involvement of younger generations in new forms of entrepreneurship linked to innovation and sustainability.

Autumn 2025 ~ Malesco, mountain culture and natural heritage

Autumn 2025 ~ At the Malesco Waterfalls, Val Vigezzo

Autumn 2025 ~ MyPonic, dialogue with families

Expected results

The MyPonic project aims to achieve the following results:

• Experimental aquaponics plant: An innovative plant will be developed, integrating IoT technologies for continuous resource monitoring and blockchain systems to ensure traceability and transparency in production. The plant will enable the production of fish, vegetables, and aromatic plants, contributing to the local economy.
• Green Pod and Living Lab: The Green Pod will be a multifunctional center serving as an educational and cultural lab, where workshops, seminars, and educational activities for students, businesses, and tourists will be organized. This space will represent a model of sustainable architecture (as it will be built from CO2-storing wood), designed to be dismantled and recyclable, in line with the principles of eco-design and circular economy.
• Community involvement: The project will include training activities aimed at various population groups, from schools to local businesses, with the goal of creating awareness and skills in sustainability. Local schools, such as the “A. Testore” Comprehensive Institute in Santa Maria Maggiore and the “Rossetti Valentini” School of Fine Arts, will be involved in specific educational programs.
• Strengthening of the local economy: The integration of aquaponics technologies will foster local economic growth, involving agricultural businesses and the tourism sector. The project will also promote new job opportunities, with the direct hiring of at least 2-3 full-time employees on permanent contracts by the end of the project.

Collaborations

MyPonic is being carried out thanks to the collaboration of a network of local and international players, combining technological and scientific expertise:

• MTM S.r.l.: Project leader and responsible for its execution.
• RIC3D S.r.l.: Specialized in developing aquaponics systems and managing innovative production systems.
• Greennovations S.r.l.: Involved in the creation of the Green Pod and sustainable infrastructures.
• Budokan Sagl (Switzerland), Pradella Sistemi S.r.l., American University in Dubai, and Università della Svizzera Italiana – USI: International technological and academic partners providing research and development support.
• Municipality of Malesco: A key local institutional body, essential for integrating the project into the territorial context of the Val Vigezzo region.

THE PROJECT IS FUNDED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION – NEXT GENERATION EU