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
