B2E Blue Bioeconomy CoLAB

Inspired by the Ocean • Driven by the Market • Powered by Knowledge The main objective of the B2E CoLAB is to promote the creation of highly-skilled jobs that can actively contribute to enhance the economic and social value of new and existing bio-based products and services inspired by the ocean, supporting the Blue Growth sectors with the highest potential: natural resources, marine biotechnology and sustainable aquaculture. By promoting the employment of highly skilled personal staff to develop knowledge-based solutions to positively respond to present and future needs of societal stakeholders, it will be possible to shape a new blue bio-economy bootstrapped by 4.0 automation and data exchange technologies. At present, the main sources of marine biomass are still mostly harvested from the wild, with only a limited part originating from aquaculture. The goal to secure a sustainable supply of marine biomass presents challenges, particularly if the only source targeted is that of wild stocks, which are already in the verge of overexploitation. A strategic management of wild marine species harvest, coupled with plans to deliver a more sustainable production operated under controlled conditions, is paramount for marine ecosystem health and services to be maintained. Consistency, security and quality of marine biomass supply for food or any other high-end use have to be balanced in ways that address environmental challenges and demands for sustainability. The fostering of biorefinery frameworks to secure the full valorisation of marine biological resources, strongly aligned with circular economy principles, must be based on well-defined research and innovation agendas with tangible goals.