The FERRO project celebrated its first anniversary by convening all partners for a General Assembly meeting, held from 20–22 May 2025 in Leipzig, Germany. Approximately 25 participants attended the event in person, with a further five joining online. The gathering served as an opportunity to reflect on the project’s progress during its inaugural year and to collaboratively plan the activities for the year ahead.

The three-day event comprised a combination of plenary sessions, presentations detailing first-year achievements, a field visit to observe project outcomes on the ground, and a concluding session focused on synthesising insights and outlining priorities for the next phase.

The meeting commenced with a series of partner presentations highlighting the diverse achievements realised across the consortium. The presentations included advancements in modelling, data integration, stakeholder engagement, and the development of nature-based solutions. Together, these sessions offered a comprehensive overview of the project’s foundational work and the strong basis it provides for the implementation phase.

A field excursion to the Dröda reservoir and the main Dröda dam offered partners a valuable opportunity to link theoretical approaches with practical examples of water cleaning methods and ecosystem restoration. On-site discussions addressed the challenges and opportunities associated with integrating ecological principles into engineering practices, reinforcing the importance of adopting a holistic, system-wide perspective in water management.

The final sessions provided time for reflection, knowledge exchange, and the identification of synergies across work packages. As FERRO now enters its implementation and piloting phase, the last-day meeting proved to be a crucial moment for consolidating shared understanding and strategic direction.

The General Assembly in Leipzig marked a significant milestone in the project’s timeline and offered an important platform to reinforce interdisciplinary collaboration among institutions and partners.

As the project enters its second year, the FERRO consortium remains committed to co-developing effective, scalable, and transferable solutions aimed at supporting healthier lakes, sustainable nutrient reuse, and resilient freshwater ecosystems across Europe.

Looking ahead, the next FERRO project meeting is scheduled to take place in Denmark in spring of 2026, with further details to be announced in due course.

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