On 12 February 2026, FERRO hosted the 3rd Mission Lakes webinar, bringing together 58 participants from across Europe in an online exchange on exploring how lake-related pollution streams can be transformed into valuable resources. FERRO and its sister projects, EUROLakes, ProCleanLakes and FutureLakes, are all part of the Mission Lakes initiative, working collaboratively to protect and restore Europe’s lakes. The webinar was led by Dr. Tallent Dadi, FERRO's coordinator.

The webinar featured four expert presentations highlighting practical case studies and forward-looking research. Dr. Raffaele Pelorosso (University of Tuscia) introduced Lake Vico as a EUROLakes demonstration site, outlining the challenges of eutrophication, oxygen depletion and agricultural pressures in this deep volcanic lake. The presentation explored integrated restoration strategies, including nature-based solutions, retention basins and sustainable land management, alongside innovative approaches such as the energetic reuse of hazelnut pruning residues.
Dr. Olga Tammeorg (University of Helsinki) and Dr. Kasper Reitzel (University of Southern Denmark), representing FERRO, presented new research on repurposing dredged lake sediments as sustainable phosphorus fertilisers. The talk highlighted innovative methods to optimise sediment reuse while minimising environmental risks, contributing to closing the human-altered phosphorus cycle and supporting long-term lake restoration.
Dr. Margarida Costa (Norwegian Institute for Water Research) presented LOCALITY, an initiative developing circular algae-based value chains using industrial waste streams. The presentation demonstrated how microalgae and seaweed production can create sustainable products for food, aquafeed, agriculture and textiles, while supporting ecosystem restoration and European market uptake.
Dr. Athena Economou-Amilli (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens) discussed the ecological importance of specialised microalgae in oligotrophic lakes, using Lake Trichonis as a case study. The presentation highlighted their role in ecosystem resilience and explored how biodiversity conservation can align with sustainable economic opportunities such as ecotourism and bio-based innovation.

The 3rd Mission Lakes webinar once again demonstrated the strength of collaboration across sister projects, reinforcing the shared commitment to advancing science-based, sustainable solutions for Europe’s lakes.