Marine
BIOGEARS Project Highlights the Potential of Biobased Ropes to Support Aquaculture
Results from the EU-funded BIOGEARS project have highlighted that new, biobased ropes developed for mussel farming perform better than current commercial models. Funded by the European Union under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, the four-year BIOGEARS project closed in April 2023. The aim of the project was to develop biobased rope solutions for the creation of an eco-friendly offshore aquaculture sector using a multitrophic approach and new biobased value chains. To meet this challenge, the research team identified suitable biobased materials and processed and developed fit-for-purpose prototype biobased ropes or “biogears”. The biogears were trialled over one year in real production environments. The results from the sea trials showed that biogears support higher production yields than their commercial counterparts maintaining their functional characteristics and durability for at least one year at sea. In addition to assessing the technical performance at sea, the BIOGEARS partners also completed a sustainability assessment to consider technical, environmental and economic aspects of the prototype ropes. Biodegradability tests showed that BIOGEARS ropes will not degrade in seawater at 20-30°C or below, while compostability tests demonstrated that biogears can be fully composted in industrial conditions (> 58 ºC). Composting, as an end of life (EoL) option for biobased ropes, could reduce the carbon footprint of longline mussel productions by 10%. The best-performing biogears prototype (B2) reduced by 34% the carbon footprint of mussel productions compared to conventional fossil-based ropes. The results showed that biogears have the potential to substitute conventional ropes in offshore longline mussel culture, promoting production yields, growth and quality of mussel and commercial benefits for “farmers, while supporting the creation of biobased value chains under the EU Bioeconomy Strategy framework,” explains Project Coordinator, Leire Arantzamendi “We are proud of the achievements of this project and look forward to developing this research further.”While economically the raw materials for the biogears are currently more costly than for fossil-fuel alternatives, there is an expectation that future trends of increasing biopolymer production to meet market demand could reduce the biopolymer price and make biogears more competitive. Furthermore, the higher mussel production yields can provide compensation for this. To find out more about the project please visit: biogears.eu, Twitter, LinkedIn or subscribe to news For more information, please contact us: Project Coordinator Leire Arantzamendi (larantzamendi@azti.es) or Communication and Press Jane Maher (jane@erinn.eu).
BlueRemediomics: European project launched to harness the vast potential of marine microbial resources
A new European research project was recently launched which aims to leverage the untapped potential of marine microbial resources. The marine microbiome is one of the fastest growing segments of the blue bioeconomy, and its study is vital for the discovery, understanding, protection and utilisation of our ocean resources. BlueRemediomics will develop novel tools and approaches to explore marine microbiome data, uniting an international consortium of experts that will work on the discovery and production of high value sustainable marine microbiome-based products, processes and services. BlueRemediomics will systematically catalogue marine microbiome data and marine culture collections to facilitate the development of industrial processes that reduce waste, increase the reuse of natural products and by-products, and improve aquaculture processes. The project simultaneously aims to ensure equitable access to and sharing of benefits derived from any new products, such as new medicines or cosmeceuticals. It will also gauge the societal appetite for biobased solutions. “Marine microbes have evolved to exploit and reuse both natural and artificial resources that they encounter in their relatively nutrient-poor environment. This can be as simple as a single enzyme, or involve a series of processes involving different species,” said coordinator Rob Finn, Microbiome Informatics Team Leader and MGnify PI at EMBL-EBI. “The BlueRemediomics project will exploit existing data to help identify such processes and enable us to derive new biobased solutions for reducing waste or for bioremediation.” A key aim of the project is to develop an open access biodiscovery platform to integrate microbiome data, and to enrich this data with functional information to facilitate its exploration for potential biological products. The project will also develop innovative approaches for the isolation and growth of these microorganisms to further enable such exploration. “Marine microbial communities represent a vast unexploited treasure trove of bioresources that have the potential to strengthen the European blue economy,” said Chris Bowler, Director of Research at CNRS, co-coordinator of the project. “For example, to safely carry out aquaculture – the farming of our oceans – it is vital that we expand our understanding of the roles played by marine microbes for ocean health. The BlueRemediomics project will establish a Microbiome Health Index for monitoring marine environments, thus allowing us to promote healthy microbiome approaches and strategies in aquaculture in line with the ‘do no significant harm’ principle”. The project was awarded €7.65 million under the latest Horizon Europe Research and Innovation funding programme with an additional €1.54 million in Associated Partner funding provided by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI). BlueRemediomics launched on 1st December 2022 and will run for four years. To keep up to date with the project, please visit twitter.com/BlueRemediomics. A website for the project is coming soon.
Launch of SEALIVE Business Plan Tool to Support Sustainable Growth
Press release, 25 January 2023 Gate2Growth has launched a free, online tool to help companies to develop targeted business plans. Developed as part of the EU-funded, SEALIVE project, the Gate2Growth Business Plan Writer tool will guide entrepreneurs and business owners to develop business plans that uniquely include sustainability and circularity principles. The tool offers a one-stop shop to create a complete sustainable business plan, steering users through all the necessary steps from customer identification, production requirements, and management capabilities to funding strategies. SEALIVE is a €10.26 million, Horizon 2020-funded Innovation Action project that has the vision to reduce plastic waste and contamination on land and in seas by boosting the use of biomaterials and contributing to the circular economy with cohesive bio-plastic strategies. The new tool has been designed to support SEALIVE partners to develop business plans for project results. The tool is also open to the public and can be used by other entrepreneurs and SMEs to assess their own business plans, particularly through the lens of sustainability and circular economy principles. The Gate2Growth Business Plan Writer contains three components: An online business plan writer to ensure the business plan has a narrative, and that all business model components are outlined; A budget module to strengthen the financial background of the business plan, and; A business plan quality assessment to provide an indication of the completeness of the business plan and investor readiness. By working through all three parts, entrepreneurs can convert their business idea into a complete business plan and comprehensive budget overview while including considerations of circularity and sustainability. All data are saved in a protected space, and each user has full control over who can get access to the information uploaded. The final business plan can be downloaded as a PDF ready to be shared with potential investors or used in grant applications. Commenting on the significance of the tool, Carmen Bianca Socaciu, Senior Consultant at Gate2Growth said: “We know how hard it is to bring new ideas to market, particularly products that don’t follow conventional pipelines. With the Gate2Growth Business Plan Writer, SMEs and entrepreneurs have easy access to clear, tailored advice that will help their business goals take shape. We look forward to receiving participants’ feedback!” To access the business plan tool, visit g2g-tool.investornet.dk/sealive/. For more updates from SEALIVE, follow @EU_SEALIVE or visit sealive.eu.
New Horizon Europe project launched to enhance the resilience of EU aquaculture by improving aquatic animal health and welfare
Researchers from 16 countries are uniting to transform aquatic animal health and welfare within the European aquaculture industry, while also supporting the environmentally friendly, inclusive, safe and healthy production of seafood. Funded by the EU Horizon Europe programme, Cure4Aqua is a €4.8 million, 4.5-year project that will develop new approaches to prevent aquatic fish diseases through innovative prophylaxis and technologies for early disease detection, while also supporting the advancement of alternative treatments to replace pharmaceuticals in disease control. Farmed seafood is an important source of protein for food and animal feed, with a low-carbon footprint, essential to help build a sustainable food system. However, the control of pathogens continues to be a major challenge for the sector. This is particularly relevant for Europe, where there is a great variety of species and production systems, which hinders the implementation of good husbandry practices tailored to each aquatic species. Cure4Aqua has brought together leading experts to take several key actions: Develop cost-effective vaccines to prevent diseases in farmed fish Implement selective breeding programmes to improve stress and disease management Develop innovative, bio-based and sustainable alternatives to antibiotics for controlling fish diseases at various life stages Develop new tools and artificial-intelligence-based technology to improve fish health and welfare Improve diagnostics of fish pathogens Integrate farmer and fish welfare as a priority of aquaculture production by developing high welfare standards that consider different life-stages, production systems, and knowledge of welfare needs. Cure4Aqua project coordinator, Ivona Mladineo from the Institute of Parasitology (BCAS) in Czech Republic said: “Research must be at the forefront of positive changes that will ensure our food systems are sustainable while caring about high health and welfare standards for fish. There is an urgent need to solve some of the major shortcomings and constraints that the European aquaculture industry is facing. Cure4Aqua will address these issues by building a co-creative approach with other players interested and involved in the aquaculture. I am looking forward leading this vital project.” Cure4Aqua partners held an inaugural project meeting on 16-17 November 2022 in Prague (Czech Republic). The project will run until April 2027. For more information, please visit cure4aqua-project.eu or follow @Cure4Aqua_EU
PREP4BLUE: Progress towards EU Mission Restore Our Ocean and Waters by 2030
An exciting project to enable the EU Mission Restore Our Ocean and Waters by 2030 is underway. PREP4BLUE (Preparing the Research & Innovation Core for Mission Ocean, Seas & Waters) project partners met in Brussels on 14 and 15 September to share initial results and plans for next steps in this €4.9 million, three-year project supported by the European Union’s Horizon Europe funding programme. Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030 seeks to protect and restore marine and freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity, prevent and eliminate pollution of our ocean, seas, and waters, and make the Blue Economy sustainable, carbon neutral, and circular. PREP4BLUE aims to inspire, engage, and involve citizens and stakeholders to interlink, leverage, and optimise activities among Mission projects, in particular in specific “Lighthouse” areas: Mediterranean Sea, Baltic and North Seas, Danube River basin, and the Atlantic/Arctic Sea basin. ERINN was heavily involved in the design and development stage of the project, leading the proposal conceptualisation as well as writing the bid. ERINN now leads the knowledge management activities, implementing a robust methodology as well as development and piloting of tools to ensure the efficient and effective transfer of high potential knowledge and solutions to contribute to the achievement of the Mission goals. Dr François Houllier, CEO of the Institut français de recherche pour l’exploitation de la mer (Ifremer), welcomed the participants at the French Maison Irène et Frédéric Joliot-Curie. Dr John Bell, the European Commission’s Healthy Planet Director opened the meeting by emphasising PREP4BLUE’s key role in the implementation of the Mission: “Working at scale, on the ground, with citizens, promoting innovation to create impact [together we need to ensure] systemic, irreversible change towards the mission objectives”. Partner discussions at the meeting focused on the practical steps needed to develop the methodologies, tools and resources that will underpin all initiatives hoping to respond to the Mission objectives. The goal for PREP4BLUE is to provide robust methodologies and practical guidance that will enable all citizens and stakeholders to engage in the co-creation and co-implementation of activities to support Mission objectives. Project Coordinator, Natalia Martin Palenzuela, Director of International and European Affairs at the Ifremer said, “Bringing the PREP4BLUE partners together for their first in-person meeting was an exciting milestone. There was a real buzz in the room with stimulating conversations and collaborations that were much more dynamic face to face compared to online. It was clear that everyone is both committed to the project and motivated to develop tangible, practical solutions that will support the entire EU community to achieve its Mission. I’m looking forward to the next stages of the project!” To stay up to date with progress, follow @PREP4BLUE on Twitter and check out the project website, prep4blue.eu, coming soon. To engage with Mission Restore Our Ocean and Waters by 2030, follow @eumissionocean on Twitter, and visit EU Missions in Horizon Europe to learn more about all five EU Missions.
EmpowerUs project launched to enable coastal communities to act for change
The European Union has launched an exciting new research project to empower coastal communities to transition towards more sustainable, inclusive and resilient coastal development. EmpowerUs (Socio-economic Empowerment of coastal communities as users of the sea to ensure sustainable coastal development) is a €6 million project that launched under the EU Horizon Europe Programme on 1st October 2022 and will run for three years. Coastal communities face many challenges including extreme weather associated with climate change, rising sea levels, tourism pressures, changing fisheries and traditional industries and how to adapt to sustainable economic development. Recognising that these complex challenges require multiple, integrated solutions, EmpowerUs is a multidisciplinary, collaborative project that will support coastal communities in their transition to becoming more environmentally, economically and socially sustainable. Working with local, regional, national and international stakeholders, EmpowerUs will co-create, pilot and evaluate Tailored Empowerment Programmes to support coastal communities in their transformation towards becoming more sustainable. The Programmes will include a portfolio of flexible, transdisciplinary tools to support social innovations that increase socio-economic resilience, well-being and job opportunities for a diverse range of community members, ensuring that nobody is left behind. In addition, practical guidance on implementing nature-based solutions to address environmental problems will enable communities to take ownership of their climate resilience. The Programmes will be implemented across a network of six pilot sites located in Bulgaria (Burgas Province), Cyprus (Eastern Limassol Region), Finland (Åland Islands), Ireland (West Coast), Norway (North), and Spain (North-western Mediterranean). Tools from the Empowerment Programmes will be shared for free on a digital platform so that all coastal communities in Europe and beyond can adapt and apply the lessons learned to their own sites. EmpowerUs project coordinator, Dr Maiken Bjørkan, Research Professor at Nordland Research Institute (Norway), said: “Living by the sea, I’ve witnessed first-hand the social, economic and environmental challenges faced by coastal communities. To solve these problems, we have to work together. Merging the multidisciplinary background of the EmpowerUs team together with the lived experience and expertise of community members will be a powerful combination. I’m excited to get the project underway!” ERINN Innovation played a key role in helping to secure funding for EmpowerUs by helping to recruit the consortia, providing proposal writing training to coordination team via ERINN’s Horizon Europe Masterclass series and helping to write and proof the final bid. During project implementation ERINN will also use its knowledge transfer expertise to lead communications, dissemination and exploitation activities for EmpowerUs, ensuring that project innovations reach their intended audiences. Michael Papapetrou, ERINN Executive Director (Ireland), said: “Working with the EmpowerUs team is a pleasure and we are proud to have played a role in gaining funding for this important research. Having been involved with the project from the start, it is exciting to see everything come together, and we look forward to sharing the innovations that arise from the project.” EmpowerUs is led by Nordland Research Institute (NRI), Norway, and brings together 16 partner organisations from Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland Spain and the UK. The project will create European leadership in the socio-economic empowerment of users of the sea in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the EU Green Deal and Paris Agreement. The inaugural EmpowerUs partner meeting was held in Barcelona on 4th and 5th October. Please follow @EmpowerUs_EU on Twitter for the latest updates.
ERINN Innovation at Aquaculture Europe 2022
Focusing on Innovation Solutions in a Changing World, Aquaculture Europe 2022 is an opportunity for stakeholders from across the aquaculture sector to engage with new developments in promoting sustainable aquaculture as part of the Blue Economy. Continuing our long association and collaboration with the European Aquaculture Society, ERINN is proud to be participating in the 2022 conference. Highlights include: BIOGEARS Blue Lab Workshop: Biobased gears towards a circular and eco-friendly aquaculture. | Thursday 29 September | 10:30-12:30 PerformFISH Final Event: Contributing to sustainable and competitive Mediterranean aquaculture. | Thursday 29 September | 10:30 – 17:30 AQUAEXCEL3.0 Brokerage Event: From Policy to Solutions | Thursday 29 September |15:15-17:30 In addition, the ERINN team will be available at booth number 110 to discuss our many other aquaculture-related projects including MARBLES, SEALIVE, ASSEMBLE Plus, NewSkin and the EuroMarine Network. Check out the full conference programme and follow #AE22RIM on Twitter for updates
MARBLES Project: New interactive microscopy exhibition set for Micro Day in Leiden
A new immersive exhibition is set to be launched in Leiden this October. The microscopy and microbe exhibition, organised by the MARBLES project, Institute of Biology (Leiden University) and Rijksmuseum Boerhaave, will be held in the museum to celebrate Micro Day in Leiden, the EU City of Science 2022. The exhibition will allow children, their parents and guardians to learn more about the microbial world and how scientists are trying to learn from them for human, animal and plant health through a number of fun daily activities, including: The world up close – compare a van Leeuwenhoek microscope with our modern-day microscopes to see and learn about the microscopic world! Test your knowledge with a microscopy quiz! For children from 7 years old. See real marine microbes with a real microscope and learn why they are so important. How well do you clean your hands? Grow bacteria from your hands on agar plates that you can take home and see the differences in the bacteria that grow before and after washing your hands! Exhibition organiser the MARBLES project is a €7.5 million, 5-year project that will develop new methods for the sustainable collection and use of biological resources from marine environments and assess their commercial potential. The researchers are studying marine microbes and the compounds they produce to assess their potential to replace environmentally harmful chemicals and medicines to help fight diseases in fish, food crops and humans. For more information about the project, please visit marblesproject.eu. The microscopy exhibition will be held in Rijksmuseum Boerhaave in Leiden, the Netherlands from 22-24 October 2022. The event is free with a valid museum ticket which can be booked at tickets.rijksmuseumboerhaave.nl. To celebrate Micro Day, museum entry is also free on 24 October. The event is suitable for children of 4 years and older.
BIOGEARS sea trials conclude – sustainable rope prototype tested for aquaculture applications
The EMFF-funded BIOGEARS research project reached a big milestone on the 18th of July 2022; with the final sea tests of their biobased rope prototype concluding. The year-long trials aimed to validate the biobased and biodegradable ropes for mussel production in sea conditions. The effect of the rope on mussel grow-out in longline versus in raft was assessed and compared over one full production cycle. Testing took place every two months in AZTI’s experimental facilities sited at South East Bay of Biscay and in Mutriku, Spain, to assess the growth and survival of the mussels, condition index and meat yield, proximal composition, and fatty acid profiles. Results of this trial will be presented during the upcoming BIOGEARS workshop on the 29th of September at the Aquaculture Europe Conference. For more information on the workshop, please visit: biogears.eu/blue-lab-workshop. BIOGEARS is working to extend the potential use of sustainable materials in the aquaculture sector, supporting the creation of biobased value chains under the EU Bioeconomy Strategy framework. To find out more about the sea trials, please visit: biogears.eu/biogears-project-milestone-sea-trials-completed To read about the prototype development and deployment please visit: biogears.eu, Twitter, LinkedIn or subscribe to news For more information, please contact Project Coordinator Leire Arantzamendi (larantzamendi@azti.es) or Communication and Press Jane Maher (jane@erinn.eu).
EU-Funded PREP4BLUE Launches – Will Prepare Mission Ocean and Waters for Successful Start
Five EU European Missions have been proposed as a novel way to enable solutions to some of the greatest challenges facing our world. Funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe program, PREP4BLUE is a €4.9 million, three-year project (Coordination and Support Action) and the first building block to Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030. This Mission seeks to protect and restore marine and freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity, prevent and eliminate pollution of our ocean, seas, and waters, and make the Blue Economy sustainable, carbon neutral, and circular. PREP4BLUE aims to inspire, engage, and involve citizens and stakeholders to interlink, leverage, and optimise activities among the projects, in particular its specific Lighthouse areas: Mediterranean Sea, Baltic and North Seas, Danube River basin, and Atlantic/Arctic Sea basin. The project partners are leading European organisations and thought leaders that complement each other in experience, expertise, and stakeholder reach across marine and freshwater areas. Project Coordinator, Natalia Martin Palenzuela, Director of International and European Affairs at the Institut français de recherche pour l’exploitation de la mer (Ifremer) said, “To engage research and innovation as a key catalyst for achieving the Mission’s objectives, a new direction must be taken towards participatory governance of this Mission, bold investment plans, and the co-design and co-implementation of solutions with citizens and stakeholders at its heart. PREP4BLUE seeks to enable this transformation during the first phase of the Mission (2021-2025).” PREP4BLUE commenced on 1 June 2022 with an initial virtual launch meeting for partners on 20 June. The launch of the Mission Implementation Charter will take place during the UN Ocean Conference on 30 June in Lisbon, Portugal. You can register to attend in person or watch it live virtually by visiting the European Commission’s Event page on the Charter launch. Follow project activities and news on Twitter @PREP4BLUE and on the project website, coming soon at PREP4BLUE.eu. Follow @eumissionoceanon Twitter to learn about opportunities to engage with this important initiative, and visit EU Missions in Horizon Europe to learn more about the EU Missions.
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ERINN Innovation Ltd
Company Number: 600883 (Ireland)
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David Murphy (IE/UK)
Laura Richardson (IE)
Marieke Reuver (NL)
Michael Papapetrou (GR/IE)
Reid Hole (NO)
