Implementation is the process of taking scientific findings and applying them to the real world to improve our communities and ecosystems. Since important freshwater ecosystems worldwide have been severely impacted by anthropogenic eutrophication, there has been a shift in public opinion regarding the acceptance of bioremediation solutions. However, there are issues that need to be resolved when supporting the implementation of a genetically modified organism solution into a natural environment. Through consultations with stakeholders, experts, and authorities knowledgeable in freshwater conservation, we were able to design a strategy for our project's implementation.

Figure 1. Our project's components

Remote Control Boat

A semi-autonomous marine vessel that uses distributed ledger technology with an integrated Arduino Mega microprocessor and GPS, equipped with pH and dissolved oxygen (DO) sensors as well as microcystin predictor. Its hull is 3D printed and its construction material, polylactic acid (PLA), is environmentally friendly and produced from sugar beet, tapioca leaves or soybeans. Minimum 5 years lifespan, 1 year guarantee provided.

Platform

Artificial floating island, fully biodegradable and environmentally friendly made of mycelium, which is a combination of fungi parts with biomass from agricultural by-products, which supports the growth of macrophytes. The protection of the platform from corrosion is achieved through the use of a special insulating material, 100% natural,which constitutes a special mixture of resin and oils from local plants. The product has a maximum 3 years lifespan by annually monitoring the corrosion suffered with the possibility of additional application of the insulating material in the following years and 12 months guarantee provided.

Genetically Engineered Phragmites australis Plants

In the presence of microcystins, a family of toxins generated by cyanobacteria in eutrophic habitats, the plants will increase the absorption of inorganic phosphorus via their roots and store it in their shoots and leaves, decreasing the levels of Pi in the eutrophic water.

Protective Mesh made of 100% recycled PET Bottles

It stands out thanks to weather resistance, UV resistance, and durability. The above characteristics were necessary so that the mesh would not tear easily and would not corrode when applied to water.

Water Filter

Incorporated into the mesh to reduce the possibility of root escaping and subsequent GM plant proliferation. Commonly used fibers are rayon, polyester and polypropylene. Typical filter media are produced in weights from 0.5 to 2.5 ounces per square yard.Common applications include filtration of metal machining coolants, oil or wastewater. Indicatively.

Mesh

Cellulose mesh (100% biobased) to cover the upper part of the plant thus that pollen from the genetically modified plant is kept under control.

Design Aspect	CFW	RC Boat
1. Performance	More efficient at absorbing and storing phosphorus than conventional wetlands. Minimal maintenance plant harvesting cost. Handbook provided to describe how to properly apply the wetlands.	Effective in monitoring water systems. Remotely piloted marine vessel using distributed ledger technology. Running costs should be low.
2. Cost	CFW is expected to cost about $1,000, but it solves a problem that costs the economies millions of dollars. The transgenic plant's high cost is balanced by its higher efficiency. Mycelium manufacturing costs should be reduced in the long term.	RC Boat is expected to cost about $800, but it solves a problem that costs the economies millions of dollars. Lower cost of production compared to other methods of monitoring marine systems. Aim to lower costs of production in the long run.
3. Environment	Reduced environmental footprint by using plants and biomaterials that are 100% natural and biodegradable. The external surface of the wetland must be waterproofed using a special coating made of an environmentally friendly substance. The construction material of the platform (mycelium) can withstand any temperature conditions.	Parts must be able to withstand temperatures of up to 70 degrees Celsius. The non-electronic and mechanical components of the construction come from natural or environmentally friendly materials which, during their application, do not pollute the environment.
4. Life in Service	Estimated maximum 3 years lifespan, 6 months guarantee provided. The product will remain in it for at least 8 months after being placed in the respective water body.	Estimated minimum 5 years lifespan, 2-year guarantee provided. There is no limit to the frequency of its use.
5. Maintanance	Corrosion due to water and salinity significantly reduces the life cycle of the mycelium. For this reason, before applying it to the water, it will be necessary to pass 2-3 layers of insulating coating that will increase its resistance and durability. The shoots of the plants should be trimmed.	Simple design so replacement parts are low cost. System should be easily opened so that parts inside can easily be checked and replaced.
6. Weight	Each wetland with its platform, plants, soil and protectors will weigh approximately 158 kg.	Total construction weight including electronic and mechanical components is 2.5kg.
7. Geometry and Size	Standard dimension to suit any type of water system.	Standard engineering design for RC Boat hull. It is listed in the mechatronic design.
8. Materials	The mycelium is a stable and reliable building bio-material. In combination with appropriate biobased coatings corrosion by water and salt is slowed down. Construction from local reeds and cellulose mesh to protect against birds and prevent the escape of seeds.	The building materials are ecological and corrosion resistant. They are selected based on the weather conditions prevailing in the areas of application and the stresses to which they will be subjected.
9. Standards and Specifications	The aim is to upgrade the current status of specific water bodies without disturbing the aquatic ecosystem.	The goal is to build an economical and easy-to-use water monitoring system with the ability to automatically store the data in a cloud.
10. Manufacturing Facility	Indicative construction of environmental engineering. Outsourcing of various consumables including enzymes, filters from external suppliers.	General purpose tooling. Outsourcing specialist parts including electronic parts from external suppliers.

"Your proposal represents a novel application of ecological engineering in Greece."

The common reed, also known as Phragmites australis, is a monocotyledonous angiosperm that is native to Greece1 and has been shown to reduce pollution levels in freshwaters during several studies. Notably, the common reed is one of the few plants, along with Typha latifolia and Typha angustifolia, that has been successfully applied and tested in CFWs in Greece. Phragmites a Australis has various advantages, including its "natural filter" reputation, rapid growth, and cost - effectiveness. Due to its extensive geographical range, which extends from cold temperate regions to wetland areas of the hot and humid tropics2, we know that it is very adaptable to a variety of situations (ie. soils with different pH, salinity, fertility and textures as well as different climatic conditions). Therefore, P. australis is an attractive option, not just for use in Greece but also across the world, turning our idea into a universal platform for aquatic environment bioremediation.

Site selection is the first step for the implementation of our research to the real world. Floating wetland constructions may be situated in rivers, lakes, or in reservoirs. They should be placed in areas where flows are generally slow and where there is permanent water3.

Lakes /off Channel Area / River Deltas

Restoring rivers and lakes benefits everyone by improving flood protection and ecological function, providing recreational opportunities, and enhancing urban quality of life. CFWs can be installed on the surface of ponds and off-channel river areas to improve the water quality in urban and rural neighbourhoods that otherwise tend to accumulate toxins.

Wastewater Lagoons

The purpose of lagoons is to collect, store, and treat wastewater over a period of time. They are frequently used to treat municipal and industrial wastewater ,where the waters are apparently stagnant, and to prevent leaks to the groundwater below. CFWs provide a valuable biological treatment option for lagoons that are particularly contaminated with pollutants associated with eutrophication4.

The implementation of Navanthus at both the regional and international levels is one of our primary goals. In Thessaly, we focus on Lake Karla and the Pineios river, both of which are suffering from eutrophication. Other environments in Greece that are affected by eutrophication and potentially benefit from our initiative include Lake Pamvotis5, as well as Lakes Mikri Prespa, Vistonis, and Ioannina6. At the European level, our proposal could have major application in the Baltic Sea, which is in a poor ecological status due to eutrophication, affecting >97% of its surface area7. Globally, freshwater ecosystems in the United States and China are able to employ Navanthus since eutrophication is such a serious problem in these regions. Among these are the Great Lakes in Canada8 as well as Lake Taihu in China9, both of which have high concentrations of Microcystis species during the summer months. However, due to legislative restrictions, we are unable to execute our idea at the national or European level at this moment. It is more feasible that our concept will be implemented in the future in the United States and China, where the legislation is more adaptable. More discussion of the relevant legislation is provided below in the challenges.

The size of the wetland we have designed is standardized and suitable for its application in freshwater. It has the form of a circular disk with a diameter of 1.15m ( 3.28 ft) and a height of 30cm (0.98 ft) with a total weight (weight of mycelium platform) of 158kg (348.3 lbs). It will have a total of 37 holes with a diameter of 3cm (0.098 ft), each of which will correspond to a plantlet of the genetically modified plant. Wetlands will be placed in tandem and the number of applied wetlands will depend on the extent of the phenomenon. The more extensive the phenomenon of eutrophication in the water body, the greater the number of wetlands we should apply.

Harmful algal blooms often occur in the late spring and summer season when water temperature is higher, providing a more hospitable environment for cyanobacteria to proliferate. Notably, microcystins, cyanotoxins that will be detected by our genetically engineered P. Australis plants begin their production at the end of spring. Therefore, we're choosing the warmer months to implement our monitoring and phytoremediation system, to detect eutrophication levels and combat algal blooms formation and Microcystins production at an early stage, eliminating further progression of the eutrophication phenomenon. As a biosafety precaution, in addition to the kill switch module that renders the seed sterile, we will restrict the platform's implementation period to the time beginning in early April and ending in late July. This is due to the fact that the blooming and cross-pollination period of the P. Australis plants begins in early August and extends through the fall10. The outcrossing of the GM plant is a major concern. For that purpose, we aim to use a biosafety module to avoid pollination of our plant and try to restrict the time frame during which the platform may be implemented.

Providing high ecological services to the public sector is the key to our team’s mission. Our idea consists of two components: a monitoring and a bioremediation system. The monitoring system, in addition to the real-time data that it would collect and store in the cloud, would be an extremely helpful tool for the scientific community that investigates the phenomenon of eutrophication. Open access to real-time monitoring data provides the necessary information interchange, and when managed properly, they become a useful tool for freshwater management planning. CFW, as a bioremediation concept, is aimed at both local authorities and international institutions for the preservation of freshwater ecosystems. Alternatively, NGOs and Ministries of the Environment could adopt the CFW strategy as a biodiversity-protecting solution. Collaboration between the government, non-government organizations, and the community is essential for the successful implementation of our idea.

"If Greece's legal framework where to permit it, then I would be more than pleased to host a pilot project in our city."

"I believe in the viability of your proposal. Ideally, I would offer you a project pilot site to put your idea into operation."

1. Monitoring System

Current water monitoring methods depend on the process of sampling and subsequent analysis in laboratories, which adds considerable time to the data providing process. Alternatives that rely on technologically advanced solutions such as programmed robots are expensive but highly efficient. Our RC Boat is an ergonomic and relatively simple solution to the problem of lack of large-scale data regarding the current state of water systems worldwide, which shows significantly reduced production costs compared to other corresponding methods. It provides real time data and fully characterizes the state of the waters, while at the same time this information is transferred directly to a web storage space (cloud) and can be available to the entire scientific community and water ecosystem protection agencies.

2. Constructed Floating Wetland

CFW vs. Traditional Systems

A variety of physical, chemical, and biological treatments have been employed in eutrophic water bodies. Remediation strategies based on physical and chemical methods are most suitable for smaller lakes and have immediate impacts on cleaning up eutrophic freshwater environments. However, these two methods cannot fundamentally solve the phenomenon of eutrophication due to costly and incomplete removal results. In addition, physical and chemical approaches have adverse impacts on an already degraded ecosystem by exposing undesirable toxic substances and destroying the sediment ecosystem. Biological treatments, on the other hand, are non-invasive, cost-effective, and sustainable strategies, but they have a prolonged lifespan. Phytoremediation provides a nature-based solution for restoration of local and global freshwaters. Our constructed floating Wetland is advantageous since it is eco-friendly, simple to operate, and more efficient at absorbing phosphorus than conventional wetlands.11

Improving Water Quality

CFWs rely on natural processes to biologically filter water, to manage algae, and remove excessive nutrients. The unique ecosystem they create has the ability to filter out harmful contaminants and recycle their nutrients into beneficial byproducts, saving our waters from contamination. The plants, during their development, are able to efficiently absorb nutrients and may also eliminate hazardous chemicals from their surrounding environment.

Protecting Biodiversity

CFW's primary mission is to ensure the preservation of aquatic life and habitats. Plant roots decrease phosphorus levels, which is crucial for the establishment of hazardous algal blooms, enabling us to first reestablish the native microbial community in the water. Clean water and balanced microbial communities are essential for aquatic species to survive and reproduce. This is how we preserve and enhance the biodiversity that has been reduced by eutrophication phenomena.

Sustainable Technology

Our goal is to develop an idea that can be effectively implemented without depleting natural resources for the future. This is why all components of the CFW and also the non electrical and mechanical parts of the RC Boat are made of natural, eco-friendly and biodegradable materials. To be considered as pioneers, we must ensure that our efforts have minimum negative environmental footprint even if our bioremediation efforts are successful.

Aesthetic Appeal

Floating wetlands are aesthetically satisfying because they provide a pleasant and relaxing view, acting as a kind of "urban oasis”. They are most necessary in degraded ecosystems where certain species are endangered or extinct. Floating islands have a natural way of separating smoothly the boundaries that humans have artificially created between land and water.

Safety Considerations

Our endeavor is based on GM plants for non-food or non-feed purposes13. "Deliberate release" means any intentional introduction into the environment of a GMO or a combination of GMOs for which no specific containment measures are used to limit their contact with and to provide a high level of safety for the general population and the environment. Existing guidelines on the environmental risk assessment of GM plants is considered adequate; however, our knowledge of the regulation of Programmed Cell Death in plants remains limited14, thus an extra focus should be paid to concerns like gene transfer and the exposure of non-target species, especially wildlife grazing on these GM plants. Risk management techniques, such post-market environmental monitoring, standard manufacturing protocols, or confinement strategies to reduce exposure to the genetically modified plant, are increasingly important.

Legislation Frame

The worldwide policy landscape of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) displays divergence rather than convergence. The United States stands on one side as strong advocates through approval and production by being a world leader in GM plant cultivation, while the European Union, on the other side, places strict regulation on GMOs 15,16. While Japan, Canada and China17,18 have approved a great number of GMOs, other countries including France, Greece, Italy and Poland use a national ban on GMO cultivation as a measure to prevent contamination of the supply chain. Consequently, if we aim to execute our proposal in the future, we must approach nations that permit the development of our GM Plant and comply with the international agreement: Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety19, which seeks to ensure the safe handling, transport, and use of live modified organisms originating from modern biotechnology.

Bioethics

The ethical issues emerging from scientific advancements will always be an ongoing problem that needs to be addressed. While designing project “Navanthus” we considered the following ethical factors. It is well known that the GMO implementation has caused several controversies among the scientific community and the public. Its cost and its effects on human health and the environment are main concerns that have arisen during the years and have resulted in the reluctance of the application. However, the advancement of technology and life sciences have given answers to these controversies and have provided the world with new opportunities and solutions to modern problems. Synthetic Biology projects are a typical example of GMO implementation ameliorating and possibly tackling long term problems. It is in our hands to take advantage of scientific advances, such as GMOs and use them properly in order to solve problems such as eutrophication that can severely affect human, animal and environmental health.

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Weather Conditions

Both Constructed Floating Wetlands and the Remote Controlled Boat have been designed in accordance with the features and climatic circumstances of the bodies of water to which they will be applied. We have ensured a preservative safety factor of the inertia and buoyancy by setting in our calculations the maximum values of these parameters. More specifically,

• Water and air temperature: T=25(°C)
• Air type: Moist air
• Relative humidity: 100%
• Air density: d=1.16992 kg/m³
• Maximum air velocity: v=4m/s

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How will CFW remain stationary ?

The nature of the phytoremediation method is based on placing several wetlands in the same place, which will be connected to each other and to the banks. Furthermore, the inertia of our CFW's lies in their mechanical design. The use of a conservative factor of safety in the construction's weight ensures that, even at high wind speeds (corresponding to already recorded speeds in lakes and rivers of Greece) the platform will be able to remain in the position in which it was placed. Read More