Filenews 29 January 2023 - by Dora Christodoulou
The first European research consortium for clean seas using artificial intelligence and robots, has a strong Cypriot "aroma". Two brothers from Paphos, whose scientific field is directly related to environmental management issues, are at the forefront of these new technologies and methods for clean seas, without garbage, among which are now the bioplastic networks that fishermen will use internationally and which are being tested for the first time worldwide in Cyprus.
They are Michalis and Xenia Loizidou, whose research team has crossed the borders of Cyprus for years. Over the past 20 years they have worked in over 50 countries in the fields of land and marine litter management, circular economy and climate change.
Since the beginning of January this year, they have been part of the first European research consortium SeaClear 2.0 to develop robotic methods to identify and collect macro-garbage from the seabed, at great depths as well as surface plastics and microplastics. At the same time, they lead the field research process, which in the framework of another European research consortium, SeaLive, calibrates and evaluates bioplastic nets with the aim of reducing the major problem of ghost nets.
Dr. Xenia Loizidou talks to "F" about all these innovative research actions, answering first of all the question of most environmentally sensitive citizens how much we should be worried about the plastic pollution of our seas. "About 12 million tons of plastic waste end up in our oceans every year, most of them after having been used once," he says. "The effects and consequences of the reckless consumption of plastics and their improper management are well known to all of us: The images of nature drowning in plastic are now part of our daily lives. The main problem with plastic, which comes from fossil fuels, is that it never biodegrades, that is, it is never "lost" when it is found in the natural environment. On the contrary, it breaks into small pieces, which are not visible to the eye, microplastics and nanoplastics. We don't see it, but it's there, forever. We know that plastic has entered our food chain. Recently, microplastics have been detected in animals and fish, but also in human tissues. So we live in the "plasticocene" era, as our era has been successfully characterized". Ms. Loizidou points out that the abolition of the linear production-use-disposal model is a necessary condition for addressing the problem and creating a circular plastics economy, as well as decoupling the production of plastics from fossil raw materials.
"Biomass, coming from sustainable sources such as organic waste, can be used to produce plastics by reducing the use of valuable mineral resources and contributing to the promotion of the circular economy. Plastics produced from biomass are called bioplastics," he explains.
It is precisely this process and its promotion that the research in which the team of Michalis and Xenia Loizidou participates aims at: "The European Union is a global leader in the Green Transition and sustainability actions. Thus, it funded the SEALIVE research project (www.sealive.eu) from the Horizon 2020 program, which aims to reduce plastic litter pollution on land and at sea, through (a) the creation and promotion of the use of new and advanced bio-materials that will address existing constraints, and (b) the strengthening of the circular economy with strategies that include the development and use of bioplastics. SEALIVE is already considered one of the most innovative projects, with an extensive research consortium of 24 research institutions from 13 different countries in Europe and South America. We create new bioplastics with advanced properties and improved performance, improve processing technologies and product design, and implement effective end-of-life solutions, such as reuse, recycling, industrial composting and biodegradation."
Xenia Loizidou says that she and her brother are very proud to participate and lead the very important part of monitoring, calibrating and evaluating the use of bioplastic products in the field. "In fact, we managed to get the consortium to accept that the fishing nets that are made entirely of bioplastics will be tested here in Cyprus, in collaboration with ten professional Cypriot fishermen who participate enthusiastically and have an important role in the research," he reveals. "So the bioplastic nets of the future will rely on the observations from this first test in Cyprus. And our fishermen are becoming part of the solution, which is none other than reducing marine plastic pollution."
Leading role across the Mediterranean
The role of Cypriot scientists in this effort, emphasizes Xenia Loizidou, is dominant. We are leading the implementation of solutions and interventions across the Mediterranean to improve waste management with prevention actions, reduce production and inappropriate disposal, as well as develop policy recommendations to be implemented by Member States, he explains: "Here, you see, these two research actions are linked. On the one hand, we create the new bio-materials that do not rely on fossil fuels and give the alternative option that will reduce plastic pollution and then we proceed to actions to collect and improve waste management with high technology and help from artificial intelligence. With nearly half a billion tonnes of plastic entering European seas every year, action must be immediate." Xenia Loizidou stressed that there are many Cypriot scientists and researchers, who have both know-how and international experience and recognition. "In conditions of climate chaos, we need actions, solutions, an integrated understanding of what is happening and how we deal with it. I hope that one day the political decisions for the development of our country will be based on scientific data and knowledge".
Innovative research with smart robots
Only recently, the participation of the scientific team headed by Dr. Loizidou in another innovative research on the use of robots to detect garbage in the sea was announced. This is, she explains, the new research called SeaClear 2.0, launched about a month ago, on January 1, 2023, with the support of the new Horizon Europe. "This is research that is at the cutting edge of technology. Using artificial intelligence, it has been designed to create a fleet of smart robots, to detect and remove marine litter from the seabed, mainly in the very deep waters, combined with aerial drones, underwater rovers, autonomous surface ships and specially built robotic grabbers with a smart and flexible handle, which together with a collection float will collect and transport on land the large garbage.
The technological core of SeaClear 2.0 consists of a highly upgraded software for automated waste collection, which can go into great depth, lift heavy waste and also collect surface garbage, with high-resolution sonar, electromagnetic sensors and microplastic detection sensors."
