FOODIMAR stands for sustainable climate-Friendly quality fOOD Ingredients from MArine side-stReams
It is a 3-year-long project funded under 1st Call of the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership 2023 – The way forward: a thriving sustainable blue economy for a brighter future. FOODIMAR project started in May, 2024.
The vision of the FOODIMAR project is to revolutionize the fisheries and aquaculture industries by transforming side-stream biomass into high-value, sustainable products. By leveraging innovative technologies and sustainable practices, FOODIMAR aims to reduce waste, enhance resource efficiency, and contribute to a resilient and environmentally friendly food system. The project envisions a future where aquatic resources are utilized to their fullest potential, creating economic opportunities while addressing environmental challenges.
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Today’s food systems face numerous threats, including environmental, economic, social, and health-related challenges, with climate change being a significant concern. The relationship between blue food –food from aquatic sources– and climate change is particularly complex. Blue food production and management are vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change, and at the same time, blue food plays a fundamental role in developing climate-friendly, nutritious food systems for human consumption. Addressing this dual challenge is fundamental for ensuring sustainable and resilient food systems in the future.
FOODIMAR addresses the significant issue of waste and inefficiency in the fisheries and aquaculture industries. Every year, a considerable proportion of fisheries and aquaculture production –including by-catch and processing side-streams– is lost, discarded or used for low-value purposes. This not only represents a lost opportunity for creating valuable products but also contributes to environmental degradation and poor resource efficiency. The challenge lies in finding sustainable ways to repurpose this biomass, transforming it into high-valuable products such as nutraceuticals and food supplements, while also reducing environmental impact and enhancing the overall sustainability and resilience of the EU seafood supply chain.
FOODIMAR aims to develop innovative, cost-effective, and climate-friendly methods to produce high-quality marine collagen, gelatin, and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) from aquaculture and fisheries side-streams to meet the industry and consumers’ needs.
Develop innovative and cost-effective methods to extract high-quality compounds from marine side-streams.
Create and test new products containing marine collagen, gelatin, and GAGS.
Implement sustainable practices to reduce waste and enhance the circularity of the aquaculture and fisheries sectors.
Conduct market assessments to estimate demand of FOODIMAR ingredients and develop comprehensive go-to-market strategies.
Work closely with industry partners and stakeholders to validate products and ensure alignment with market needs.
Demonstrate the environmental and economic benefits of utilizing marine side-streams for high-value products.
Increase awareness of the potential uses of marine side-streams and the benefits of sustainable practices in the EU seafood industry.