The MARMADE consortium gathered on 17 June 2026 for its Steering Board, General Assembly and Project Meeting, coordinated by the University of Camerino (UNICAM). The meeting brought together project partners from across Europe to review the progress achieved so far, discuss ongoing activities and coordinate the next steps for the successful implementation of the project.

Throughout the meeting, partners presented updates from all Work Packages, highlighting recent achievements, ongoing research and technical developments, as well as upcoming tasks. The discussions provided an opportunity to assess progress against project objectives, exchange knowledge and ensure effective coordination across the consortium.

Overall, the meeting highlighted the consortium’s strong commitment to developing circular and bio-based solutions that contribute to more sustainable food and feed value chains. By combining scientific excellence, innovation and cross-sector collaboration, MARMADE is helping pave the way towards a more resilient and sustainable blue bioeconomy in Europe.

Stay tuned for more updates as MARMADE continues to transform marine biomass into innovative solutions that support Europe’s green and sustainable future.

Behind MARMADE lies a clear vision: to rethink how marine resources are perceived, used, and transformed within more sustainable food systems.

For Professor Sauro Vittori, the creation of MARMADE was inspired by the growing need to manage resources in a smarter, more sustainable, and more innovative way, with a particular focus on the untapped potential of marine biomass.

“MARMADE was inspired by the idea that marine wastes should no longer be considered as such, but as valuable resources for creating sustainable and innovative solutions,” Professor Vittori explains.

At the heart of the project is the ambition to foster a circular food system by combining scientific research, technological innovation, and stakeholder collaboration. Through this approach, MARMADE aims to transform marine biomass into high-value products that can deliver environmental, economic, and social benefits.

A key element of this vision is the development of a “zero residue” process, ensuring that marine resources are used efficiently and responsibly throughout the entire value chain.

The sustainable valorisation of marine biomass is particularly important for Europe today, as it supports the transition toward a circular and resource-efficient bioeconomy. Marine biomass, including algae and seafood processing wastes, remains an underexploited resource with strong potential for the development of food ingredients, bioactive compounds, and other high-value products.

“Its valorisation can reduce waste, lower environmental impacts, strengthen food system resilience, and decrease dependence on non-renewable resources,” Professor Vittori notes.

Beyond its environmental dimension, the project also highlights the economic opportunities that marine biomass can create, especially for coastal regions, while contributing to European sustainability and climate goals.

Looking ahead, MARMADE aims to contribute to a more sustainable and circular blue bioeconomy by demonstrating how marine biomass can be effectively transformed into valuable products and solutions.

“We hope the project will inspire new industrial practices, strengthen collaboration between research institutions and stakeholders, support the development of standardized protocols, and encourage policies that promote sustainable resource use,” Professor Vittori says.

Through its work, MARMADE also seeks to raise awareness of the potential of marine biomass, helping reduce waste, improve resource efficiency, and generate long-term environmental, social, and economic benefits across European food and bio-based sectors.

By bringing together research, innovation, and collaboration, MARMADE continues building the foundations for a more sustainable and circular future for marine-based resources.

MARMADE participated in the CBE JU Cluster Workshop on Bio-based Food and Feed Ingredients, held in Brussels and bringing together around 60 representatives from research organisations, industry, European institutions and bioeconomy stakeholders.

The workshop focused on innovative bio-based solutions for the food, feed and nutraceutical sectors, offering a platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration among projects funded by the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU), Horizon Europe and other European programmes.

MARMADE was featured in the thematic session dedicated to aquatic feedstocks, alongside PROTEUS, MULTIPLY, ALLIANCE and CLEANALGAE2VALUE, which are exploring innovative ways to valorise algae and marine biomass for the development of sustainable ingredients. Discussions highlighted the importance of creating integrated and circular value chains capable of transforming marine resources into high-value products while reducing pressure on terrestrial resources.

Throughout the workshop, participants addressed key challenges facing the sector, including regulatory requirements, market uptake, industrial scale-up and consumer acceptance. At the same time, the event underlined the importance of stronger collaboration between researchers, industry, policymakers and regulatory authorities to accelerate the deployment of innovative bio-based solutions.

The workshop provided a valuable opportunity for MARMADE to exchange experiences with fellow projects, identify potential synergies and contribute to the ongoing dialogue on the future of sustainable food and feed systems in Europe.

For more information about the workshop and the discussions on the future of sustainable bio-based ingredients, visit the full article published by CBE JU.

The MARMADE project was presented at the 22nd International Conference on Renewable Resources & Biorefineries, held in Leuven, Belgium, from 1 to 4 June 2026.

As a prominent international conference in the field of renewable resources and biorefineries, the conference brought together researchers, industry representatives, policymakers, and stakeholders from across the bio-based economy sector. The event provided a platform for discussing scientific, technical, economic, environmental, and social aspects of renewable resource utilisation and biorefinery development.

Representing MARMADE, Erik Malta from CTAQUA presented a project poster highlighting the work carried out under Work Package 1, which focuses on marine biomass sourcing. The presentation introduced MARMADE’s innovative approach to transforming marine biomass into high-value ingredients through two complementary value chains, showcasing the project’s ambition to support circular and sustainable bio-based production systems.

The poster also presented the main bioactive extracts targeted by the project and their intended applications, demonstrating how marine resources can contribute to the development of innovative solutions for food and feed sectors while supporting resource efficiency and sustainability objectives.

Beyond the presentation itself, the conference provided valuable opportunities for networking and knowledge exchange. Discussions with participants focused on key challenges and opportunities related to the valorisation of invasive marine species, including regulatory considerations and the balance between economic viability and environmental sustainability in biorefinery development.

These exchanges reflected the broader objectives of MARMADE, which seeks to unlock the potential of marine biomass through innovative and environmentally responsible approaches. By participating in international events like this, the project continues to engage with the wider bioeconomy community and contribute to ongoing discussions on sustainable resource management and circular bio-based solutions.

Discover more about MARMADE’s sustainable marine biomass sourcing strategy, value chains, and biorefinery approach by exploring the conference poster presented at RRB 2026.

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.

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.

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 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 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.