On 5 June 2025, the LIFE SEDREMED project held its Final Conference in Naples at the Villa Comunale, bringing together policymakers, researchers, industrial stakeholders, and civil society to discuss the future of sustainable sediment remediation in Europe and the Mediterranean.
The event opened with institutional greetings and a screening of the LIFE SEDREMED short documentary, setting the stage for a day dedicated to scientific exchange, policy dialogue, and stakeholder engagement. The morning plenary featured presentations from project partners, highlighting both scientific achievements and lessons learned:
- Project overview – Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn
- Field implementation – Ekogrid & Idrabel
- Monitoring – Isodetect & Università Politecnica delle Marche
- Life Cycle Assessment – Università Politecnica delle Marche
- Decontamination Plan – Invitalia
- After-LIFE & MEDREHUB – Nisida Environment
The late morning session broadened the perspective with interventions from external stakeholders, including:
- Biochar strategy – University of Trieste
- Sediment assessment & management – ISPRA
- Regional Monitoring of sediments and ecosystems – ARPAC
- Perspectives from the Blue Economy sector – Cluster BIG
- Presentation of another EU sediment recovery project – GREENLIFE4SEAS
- Shipping industry contributions to innovation and sustainability – ForMare / Polo Nazionale per lo Shipping
In the afternoon, participants joined interactive workshops: a Policy Dialogue focused on the regulatory landscape and governance of sediment management, and two Technology Development sessions where scientists and companies discussed future applications and synergies.
Beyond presenting results, the Final Conference also marked the launch of MEDREHUB, a Mediterranean innovation hub that will carry forward LIFE SEDREMED’s legacy. MEDREHUB will act as a centre for research, policy dialogue, training, and community engagement, ensuring that the project’s work on sustainable sediment remediation continues to generate impact well beyond 2025.
The day concluded with a site visit to Bagnoli, offering participants a direct view of the challenges and opportunities in one of the most emblematic contaminated coastal areas in Italy.
