SUSTIMAR · Design and integration of value chains for the processing of marine biomass based on environmental indicators towards a marine biorefiney
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2022-10-01 → 2026-01-20
- EU contribution
- €259,399
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Design and integration of value chains for the processing of marine biomass based on environmental indicators towards a marine biorefiney
A significant fraction of the biomass landed by Spanish fishing fleets is considered waste, generating hundreds of thousands of tons of by-products each year that require proper management to prevent environmental pollution. In addition, European Union regulations now require that catches previously discarded be landed, further increasing the volume of biomass to manage. The SUSTIMAR project explored alternative approaches to manage this biomass and recover valuable biocompounds for diverse applications within the framework of marine biorefineries, while also assessing the environmental impacts of processes and potential risks from emerging pollutants in marine biomass to ensure safety and sustainability. The project promotes a circular bioeconomy with zero-waste production, while enhancing socio-economic benefits and societal well-being. Overall, it aimed to develop tools for safety and environmental assessment to inform decision-making in line with European Union priorities.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
More than 30% of the biomass landed by fishing fleets in the ports of Spanish coast constitutes a waste not usable for human consumption, resulting in hundreds of thousands of tons/year of by-products that must be managed urgently to avoid serious environmental pollution problems. To this biomass, we must add the fishing discards that the recent EU policy forces to land in ports. Most of these by-products are used in the production of fish meals, generally of low quality in Spain, in which the biomass undergoes a low valorisation level. Although this type of treatment is necessary to account for some fractions exhibiting low added value, there are other alternatives that maximise the obtaining of compounds of high commercial interest in diverse sectors of application. In this context, the main goal of this IF is to assess different scenarios of valorisation of marine biomass including the design, optimisation and integration of the biocompounds production processes with medium-high value added for the use as bioactive compounds of interest to the food, pharmaceutical or nutraceutical industries, by using more efficient as well as environmental and sustainable practices in a marine biorefinery concept. Based on previous experience with this type of raw material, processes and related methodologies, this project is essentially a research and a development action of optimised protocols for obtaining biocompounds that can be easily transferred to a potential industrial implementation.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS · MadridCoordinatorSpain
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union