It has been some time since I sat down at my computer to write the editorial for our first newsletter in December 2020. That year demanded all our skills and resilience to overcome, and at that point, it was still difficult to predict whether B2E would be sustainable in the long term. Almost two years have passed since then, and looking back, I am very proud. We are about to enter a new cycle, having recently renewed our CoLAB title and funding from FCT and ANI: thank you for supporting us from the beginning.tendo sido «recompensador e difícil em igual medida». Em 2022, é definitivamente mais recompensador do que difícil!

We have been successful in several of our project proposals, of which I must highlight two RRP agendas and an FCT project. We are strengthening our brand as a benchmark in aquaculture literacy, with several interviews in the media supporting our ongoing campaigns. The most recent campaign, “AEIOU da Aquicultura” (The ABCs of Aquaculture), is aimed at young children, and we are delighted to visit schools to teach our youngest citizens about aquaculture and its benefits. We have been strengthening our international presence—and that of our members and partners—having just returned from our participation in Aquaculture Europe, where we successfully organized the Portuguese Pavilion and the Collaborative Stand for the second consecutive year. In 2020, we were unable to meet in person. Now that we can, we are going to make the most of it: our annual event is just around the corner: selected B2E members and partners will meet on December 5 at CIIMAR to discuss collaboration opportunities and future projects. We hope to see you there!

In my first editorial, I referred to 2020 as having been “equally rewarding and difficult.” In 2022, it is definitely more rewarding than difficult!

Elisabete Matos
Technical-Scientific Coordinator of B2E CoLAB