Marmade

From Lab to Value: MARMADE in Action

marmade-admin — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 05:52:43 +0000

The transition to a circular and sustainable bioeconomy requires not only innovative ideas, but also tangible processes and people working behind them. Within the MARMADE project, research activities are actively demonstrating how marine residues can be transformed into high-value bio-based resources.

One example is the development of Deep Eutectic Solvents (DES). As shown in the video below, these solvents are formed from solid compounds through controlled mixing, resulting in a liquid system that can be used for the selective extraction of valuable compounds such as astaxanthin from crustacean discards. This approach highlights the potential of innovative, bio-based extraction methods to support resource efficiency and circularity.

At the same time, MARMADE places strong emphasis on the people behind the innovation. Researchers involved in the project are working on the valorisation of crustacean residues into bio-based materials such as chitosan, applying biorefinery processes and laboratory techniques to unlock new value from marine biomass.

Together, these activities demonstrate how MARMADE contributes to advancing the blue bioeconomy by combining scientific expertise, innovative processes, and a clear focus on sustainability and resource valorisation.

MARMADE at the CBE JU Stakeholder Forum 2026

marmade-admin — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 05:57:10 +0000

The MARMADE project participated in the CBE JU Stakeholder Forum 2026, held in Brussels, a key event bringing together stakeholders from across Europe’s bio-based economy to discuss challenges and opportunities in scaling up bio-based innovations.

The project was represented by APRE (Agency for the Promotion of European Research), contributing to discussions and exchanges with policymakers, industry representatives, researchers, and other EU-funded projects.

The Forum gathered around 400 participants from 40 countries, highlighting the growing momentum of the European bioeconomy and the importance of collaboration across sectors.

From innovation to impact

Discussions at the Forum focused on the critical transition from research to market, addressing key challenges such as:

Scaling up bio-based solutions from “lab to fab” to full industrial deployment
Improving access to finance for large-scale implementation
Strengthening industrial ecosystems and cross-sector collaboration
Ensuring supportive and well-aligned policy frameworks

Speakers emphasised that regulation, funding, and collaboration are essential enablers to accelerate the deployment of bio-based innovations and strengthen Europe’s competitiveness in the global bioeconomy.

Aligning with MARMADE’s mission

These priorities closely align with MARMADE’s objective to valorise marine biomass, including crustacean residues and seaweed, into high-value ingredients for food and feed applications.

Participation in the Forum provided a valuable opportunity to exchange insights, connect with key stakeholders, and position MARMADE within the broader European bioeconomy landscape.

Read more about the key outcomes of the Forum here.

MARMADE Steering Board and Project Meeting

marmade-admin — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 05:46:06 +0000

The MARMADE consortium recently came together for a Steering Board and Project Meeting, coordinated by the University of Camerino (UNICAM). The meeting brought together project partners to align on ongoing activities and define the next steps in the project’s implementation.

The discussions focused on updates across the project’s Work Packages, providing an overview of progress and ensuring effective coordination as MARMADE continues to advance. Partners exchanged insights on current developments, challenges, and upcoming tasks, reinforcing a shared understanding of priorities and timelines.

Regular meetings of this kind play a key role in maintaining strong collaboration within the consortium. By fostering open communication and continuous alignment, the MARMADE partners ensure that the project progresses efficiently towards its objectives.

The meeting highlighted once again the importance of structured coordination and active engagement among partners, which are essential for delivering high-quality results and maximising the project’s overall impact.

Stay tuned as MARMADE continues its journey toward unlocking the potential of marine biomass and supporting Europe’s transition to a resilient blue bioeconomy.

MARMADE joins the Circularis BioCluster

marmade-admin — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 11:48:53 +0000

MARMADE has officially joined the Circularis BioCluster, a clustering initiative bringing together four Horizon Europe projects – VALORISH, ONE EARTH, PROMISEANG, and MARMADE – to strengthen collaboration and amplify the impact of bio-based innovation in Europe.

The Circularis BioCluster aims to foster joint communication, dissemination, and technical exchange among the participating projects. By working together, the partners seek to maximise visibility, engage wider audiences, and promote cross-sector collaboration in the field of sustainable resource valorisation.

The cluster partners share a common mission: to develop scalable and sustainable bio-based solutions that transform underutilised biological resources into high-value products for sectors such as food, feed, agriculture, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.

Through this collaboration, the projects will organise joint activities including workshops, webinars, communication campaigns, and knowledge exchange initiatives, while exploring opportunities for technical collaboration and scientific publications.

By joining the Circularis BioCluster, MARMADE strengthens its engagement with the European bioeconomy community and contributes to advancing circular and sustainable bio-based solutions across Europe.

MARMADE joins the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership (SBEP) Thematic Portfolio

marmade-admin — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 09:13:53 +0000

MARMADE has been selected among 14 European projects in the fields of aquaculture and fisheries to participate in the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership (SBEP) Thematic Portfolio, a strategic two-year initiative fostering collaboration across the blue economy ecosystem.
The SBEP Thematic Portfolio kick-off meeting took place in Bucharest, Romania, from 10 to 12 February, alongside the 2nd Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership Symposium. The events brought together project coordinators, blue economy stakeholders, and representatives of European institutions to exchange knowledge, align strategic priorities, and explore opportunities for cooperation.

MARMADE was represented by Germana Borsetta (University of Camerino), who participated in discussions focused on strengthening synergies among projects addressing sustainability challenges in aquaculture and fisheries.
Participation in the SBEP Thematic Portfolio provides MARMADE with a structured platform to:

Connect with leading initiatives in the Blue Economy domain

Strengthen collaboration across research and innovation projects

Contribute to coordinated efforts supporting sustainable marine resource management

By joining this portfolio, MARMADE reinforces its commitment to advancing circular and sustainable solutions within Europe’s blue bioeconomy, while enhancing its visibility and cooperation at European level.

From the sea to the table: MARMADE featured on Scienza e Lode

marmade-admin — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 13:59:37 +0000

From the sea to the table: MARMADE featured on Scienza e Lode

MARMADE has been featured in Scienza e Lode, a web magazine dedicated to high-quality science communication, through an article highlighting the project’s contribution to a more sustainable food future. The feature presents MARMADE as a research initiative built around algae, crustaceans, and innovation, with the University of Camerino playing a key scientific role.

The article introduces MARMADE as a project funded under the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU), focused on the development of innovative, high–added-value food and feed ingredients derived from marine biomass. The project works with resources such as crustacean residues, including shrimp shells and blue crab, as well as green, red, and brown algae, exploring their potential within a circular bioeconomy framework.

Scientific coordination is led by Sauro Vittori from the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Health Products, in collaboration with Serena Gabrielli and Germana Borsetta of the University of Camerino. Together, they describe how MARMADE combines scientific research and technological innovation to transform marine biomass into new food and feed solutions.

According to the article, MARMADE applies innovative technologies to extract bioactive compounds and develop products with improved nutritional and sensory characteristics. In this context, the sea is presented not only as an ecosystem to be protected, but also as a source of nutrition, innovation, and a sustainable future, capable of contributing to the development of new circular value chains.

The full Italian article and related video interview are available on Scienza e Lode, via the official communication channels of the University of Camerino.

Watch full video:

€170.7 million for bio-based innovation in Europe

marmade-admin — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 13:19:43 +0000

€170.7 million for bio-based innovation in Europe

The Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) has announced €170.7 million in funding through its 2026 Annual Work Programme, aimed at accelerating sustainable and competitive bio-based solutions across Europe. The programme supports the development of new circular value chains, strengthens industrial resilience, and advances the transition away from fossil-based resources

The 2026 Work Programme introduces 13 targeted topics, covering a broad range of actions from industrial flagship biorefineries to research and innovation projects. Priority areas include Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) bio-based solutions, diversification of nutritional food ingredient sources, valorisation of residual biomass, and improved efficiency of biorefineries. Together, these topics address key challenges related to resource efficiency, biotechnology scale-up, and market uptake

Calls for proposals are expected to open on 23 April 2026 and close on 22 September 2026, accompanied by dedicated information and networking events to support applicants. Alongside funding, CBE JU will roll out additional strategic activities, including stakeholder engagement initiatives and enhanced monitoring of project results, to maximise impact across the European bioeconomy.

For projects such as MARMADE, this announcement highlights the growing strategic importance of circular, bio-based innovation in Europe and the strong policy momentum supporting sustainable food, feed, and industrial solutions.

Full details on the €170.7 million CBE JU 2026 Work Programme, priority topics, and upcoming calls are available on the official CBE JU website.

1st General Assembly Meeting: MARMADE moves forward

marmade-admin — Thu, 27 Nov 2025 09:08:09 +0000

1st General Assembly Meeting: MARMADE moves forward

On 27 November, the MARMADE consortium convened online for its 1st General Assembly (GA) Meeting, marking a key milestone in the project’s implementation. The meeting brought together all partners to align on project governance, ongoing activities, and the roadmap for the months ahead.

Hosted by UNICAM, the General Assembly provided a comprehensive overview of progress across work packages, upcoming milestones, and priorities requiring close coordination. Partners engaged in constructive discussions on technical developments, management aspects, and cross-cutting collaboration, reinforcing a shared understanding of MARMADE’s objectives and responsibilities.

This first GA played an essential role in ensuring that all consortium members move forward in a coordinated, transparent, and confident manner. By reviewing achievements to date and clarifying next steps, the meeting strengthened internal alignment and set a solid foundation for the project’s next implementation phase.

The strong participation and active exchange of views reflected the growing momentum within the MARMADE consortium and the collective commitment to delivering impactful results. As the project progresses, this collaborative spirit will be key to advancing innovative, circular solutions that valorise marine resources for sustainable food and feed applications.

Stay tuned as MARMADE continues its journey toward unlocking the potential of marine biomass and supporting Europe’s transition to a resilient blue bioeconomy.

MARMADE Press Release

marmade-admin — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 08:56:40 +0000

MARMADE Press Release

MARMADE harnesses marine biomass to drive innovation in food and feed ingredients

As the global population is projected to reach 9.8 billion by 2050, pressure on food and feed systems is intensifying. Conventional production models are increasingly unsustainable, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, land degradation and water scarcity. In this context, the transition to resource-efficient, circular and bio-based solutions is no longer optional but essential.

Launched in September 2025, MARMADE is a European research project that responds to this challenge by unlocking the untapped potential of marine biomass. The project focuses on the valorisation of crustacean residues, such as shrimp shells and blue crabs, as well as green, red and brown seaweeds, transforming them into sustainable, high-value ingredients for food and feed applications.

From marine residues to high-value ingredients

Through advanced biorefinery processes, MARMADE extracts bioactive compounds from marine biomass and uses them to develop innovative food and feed prototypes with enhanced nutritional properties. At the same time, the project places strong emphasis on food safety, sustainability and regulatory compliance, ensuring that the developed solutions are not only innovative but also market-ready.

The project runs for three years and is funded by the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU), the partnership between the European Union and the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC). MARMADE brings together 11 partners from 7 European countries, combining scientific excellence with strong industrial know-how.

Kick-off meeting

The project’s kick-off meeting took place on 12 September 2025 at University of Camerino, marking the first major milestone of MARMADE. Representatives from all partner organisations, along with the CBE JU, met to define the initial activities, align expectations and set the course for the project’s ambitious roadmap.

Vision and objectives

MARMADE’s core objective is to develop a portfolio of innovative marine-based food and feed ingredients that are affordable, nutritious, safe, healthy and sustainable. The project is fully aligned with key EU policy frameworks, supporting the European Green Deal by reducing dependence on petrochemical-based ingredients and strengthening the circular economy.

In parallel, MARMADE contributes to the Farm to Fork Strategy by improving the nutritional profile of food and feed, advances the EU Bioeconomy Strategy through cascading extraction processes, and applies Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) principles to ensure environmental protection and consumer safety throughout the value chain.

Project consortium

The MARMADE consortium consists of the following partners:

Università degli Studi di Camerino (UNICAM) – Coordinator
BIOCHICA SRL
APRE – Agenzia per la Promozione della Ricerca Europea
ena Development Consultants
University of Southern Denmark
Universidad de Granada
Fundación Centro Tecnológico Acuicultura de Andalucía
Fraunhofer Gesellschaft
University College Cork – National University of Ireland, Cork
Algae Scope Ltd
Wunderfish GmbH

Contact information

info@marmade-project.eu