After the first year of implementation of the UPSTREAM Project, a consortium meeting has been held in the city of Mytilene on the Greek island of Lesvos, thanks to the hospitality and organisation of the project partner University of the Aegean. The project has made progress in the detection and monitoring system for macro and micro plastic pollution. We were able to learn in detail about the possibilities of using drones for the detection of plastic pollution. In addition, work has been conducted on prevention activities through the development of biodegradable polymers and the optimisation of innovative solutions for the recovery and removal of litter, plastics and microplastics from rivers. Plans have also begun to develop plans to bring to market the innovative technologies that will be optimised through this project.

The meeting laid the foundations for the next steps, with the preparation of 5 demonstration sites, including the Ebro River.

The project is coordinated by the Aragonese research centre AITIIP, with the participation of Ecociudad Zaragoza.