[REPLAY] Workshop “Developing novel Blue biorefineries from aquatic resources”

REPLAY Hybrid Workshop – Developing novel Blue biorefineries from aquatic resources

Program
Part 1 – EU Research programs: Creating or improving new Blue biorefineries
CIRCALGAE – Transforming the by-products from seaweed and microalgae processing into value added ingredients
CSIC – Toni Martinez Abad FOODIMAR – From Bones to Bucks: Unlocking the Value of Marine side streams
SINTEF – Rachel Durand

Rachel_Durand_FOODIMAR –

IMPRESS – Advancing Zero-Waste Multi-Product Biorefineries Through Innovative Technologie
TEAGASC – Brijesh Tiwari

TEAGASC_Presentation_CIRCALGAE_Final.pptx

Q&A Session

Part 2 – Industry session: Developing commercial biorefineries
CIRCALGAE – Seaweed Biorefinery – From the Shores to the Shelves
Alginor – Georg Kopplin

FOODIMAR – From Fish Waste to Functional Value: Scaling Marine Biorefineries with Green Technology
TETIS – Emre Yemisken

Emre Yemisken – TETIS
IMPRESS – Microalgae biotechnology as a tool for Blue biorefineries

NEOALGAE – Maria Alvarez Gil
Microalgae as a Source for Commercial Fucoxanthin

NEOALGAE_Presentation_CIRCALGAE_Final.pptx

Algalif – Oran Ayalon

Algalif – Presentation

Q&A Session

On September 10th 2025, we held the 3rd workshop in the series organized throughout CIRCALGAE project and organized by CEVA with the active support of Aquimer and the project partners. The event was organized in Keflavik, Iceland, but also online to increase audience and spark interactions.
This third edition was dedicated to the development of novel Blue biorefineries from aquatic resources. It was the opportunity to share findings and insights from 3 European projects dedicated to this topic:

• CIRCALGAE: “our” Horizon Europe project focusing on the development of sustainable biorefinery of co-products from seaweed and microalgae industries, into high-value ingredients for food, feed, and cosmetic applications;
• FOODIMAR: a Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership aiming to develop industry-relevant solutions for the valorization of side streams from fisheries and aquaculture;
• IMPRESS: a Horizon Europe Innovation Action aiming to unlock the potential of low trophic marine and freshwater species and their co-products, for food, feed and packaging applications.

This unique gathering brought together researchers, innovators, and industry leaders to explore sustainable ways of harnessing aquatic resources and developing circular, high-value value chains. The workshop was split into 2 sessions, focusing on scientific and technical development of the biorefineries, but also on their uptake by a range of SMEs across Europe.

🔹 Part 1 – EU Research Programs
Creating or improving new Blue Biorefineries

CIRCALGAE – Transforming the by-products from seaweed and microalgae processing into value-added ingredients
👤 Toni Martinez Abad – CSIC

Toni Martinez Abad delved into the development of CIRCALGAE biorefineries, leveraging underutilized seaweed and microalgae by maximizing the use of all biomass fractions to create multiple valuable products. Significant attention was given to microalgae industrial processes typically leaving behind protein-rich residual biomass. Innovative extraction technologies such as high-pressure homogenization (HPH) and ultrasound (US) pretreatments were presented as effective techniques boosting protein recovery from these residues. Bioactivity and functionality of the extracts were also evaluated in vitro. Then, he addressed valorization of seaweed processing by-products, including agar and alginate production, and the reuse of alkaline effluents and solid residues. Despite the recalcitrant nature of seaweeds, accessible biomass and processing residues from phycocolloid-rich macroalgae can be transformed into value-added compounds and eco-materials through affordable, simple methods.

Keys points to remember:

• Biorefineries: CIRCALGAE aims to fully valorize underused seaweed and microalgae biomass.
• Protein recovery: Innovative methods (HPH, ultrasound) improve extraction from residual microalgae biomass.
• Bioactivity: Extracts were tested for functionality and potential applications.
• By-products: Seaweed residues from agar/alginate production can be reused, including alkaline effluents.
• Sustainability: Even recalcitrant seaweed can be transformed into value-added compounds and eco-materials through simple, affordable methods.

FOODIMAR – From Bones to Bucks: Unlocking the Value of Marine Side Streams
👤 Rachel Durand – SINTEF

Rachel Durand outlined the FOODIMAR project, which aims to develop sustainable blue biorefineries by valorizing side-streams from fisheries and aquaculture, such as fish heads, backbones, and jellyfish by-catch. She focused on the recovery of protein-rich ingredients for food applications, along with the extraction of highly valuable compounds for biomedical, cosmetic, and nutraceutical markets, such as collagen, gelatin, and glycosaminoglycans. The project prioritizes the use of green extraction methods (enzymes, ultra-sound, supercritical C02). Initial work performed confirms that Norwegian whitefish side streams can be a cheap and available source of high value ingredients. In particular, ultra-sound processes allowed significantly improved yields of good quality collagen, despite the mixed composition and high mineral content of fish bones raw materials.

Main points to remember:

• FOODIMAR: Sustainable biorefineries valorizing fishery & aquaculture side-streams.
• High-value compounds: Collagen, gelatin & bioactive compounds for food, cosmetic & health uses.
• Green methods: Enzymes, ultrasound & CO₂ boosting yields, esp. collagen.

IMPRESS – Advancing Zero-Waste Multi-Product Biorefineries Through Innovative Technologies
👤 Brijesh Tiwari – TEAGASC

This presentation of IMPRESS project focused on the development of innovative blue biorefineries based on seafood and freshwater aquatic resources. The process includes the selection of raw materials and identification of target products, but also other important items such as an inventory of relevant technologies, data collection throughout the process and a cost-benefit analysis. Professor Tiwari insisted on the use of clean technologies, energy optimization and the full recovery of by-products, particularly from algae and fish. Innovative techniques such as membrane filtration and ultrasound-assisted extraction were used to maximize the yield and purity of extracts. The IMPRESS project is also developing integrated systems combining production and biorefineries, with intelligent re-use of effluents for further aquaculture (algae, duckweed).

Main points to remember:

• IMPRESS project: Valorization of seafood & freshwater resources with full by-product recovery (fish, algae).
• Clean tech focus: Energy optimization, membrane filtration & ultrasound to boost yield and purity.
• Integrated systems: Linking production & biorefineries with smart effluent reuse for aquaculture (e.g., algae, duckweed).

🔹 Part 2 – Industry Session

Developing commercial biorefineries

CIRCALGAE – Seaweed Biorefinery: From the Shores to the Shelves
👤 Georg Kopplin – ALGINOR

Georg Kopplin provided a comprehensive overview of Alginor, a pioneering company focused on implementing a novel blue biorefinery of seaweed. Alginor valorizes seaweed biomass through integrated biorefinery processes that emphasize zero-waste and cascade extraction to separate high-value compounds while efficiently utilizing side-streams, avoiding toxic chemicals, and balancing product yield with market demand. Georg Kopplin described the sequential phases of the company history, from initial technology development and lab-scale experimentation to industrialization and commercial deployment. He also illustrated how these stages include very diverse tasks beyond technical aspects, such as market research, business development, regulatory compliance, and addressing challenges such as raw material availability and traceability, logistics, or market acceptance.

Main points to remember:

• ALGINOR: Pioneering seaweed biorefinery using zero-waste, cascade extraction and non-toxic processes.
• From lab to market: Evolved from R&D to industrial scale, balancing yield with market demand.
• Beyond tech: Includes business development, regulation, logistics, raw material traceability & market acceptance.

FOODIMAR – From Fish Waste to Functional Value: Scaling Marine Biorefineries with Green Technology
👤 Emre Yemisken – TETIS

TETIS is an Istanbul-based green biotechnology startup founded in 2018, specializing in transforming fish waste into high-value functional products through sustainable biorefinery technologies. Emre Yemisken illustrated how their research uses multiple innovative green extraction methods such as supercritical CO₂, enzymatic, ultrasonic, and microwave-assisted processes, aligning with circular economy principles and zero-waste goals. TETIS participates in the FOODIMAR project, aiming to convert marine side-streams into valuable compounds, exemplified by product lines like CollaRich (liquid and powder collagen for B2B) and Seanacks (marine collagen snacks for B2C). Emre Yemisken also mapped how each of the technologies proposed can be positioned in terms of target products, flexibility, scalability or required investments as well as their respective advantages for energy efficiency and sustainability. He concluded his presentation by a focus on the next stages required for full industrial scale-up and the markets targeted.

Main points to remember:

• TETIS (Istanbul, 2018): Green biotech startup transforming fish waste into high-value products with circular, zero-waste principles.
• Innovative methods: Supercritical CO₂, enzymatic, ultrasonic & microwave-assisted extraction for collagen and functional compounds.
• Market focus: B2B (CollaRich collagen) & B2C (Seanacks snacks), now preparing for industrial scale-up

IMPRESS – Microalgae Biotechnology as a Tool for Blue Biorefineries
👤 Maria Alvarez Gil – NEOALGAE

NEOALGAE is an innovative biotechnology company founded in 2012 in Gijón, Spain, specializing in microalgae-based solutions within the blue circular bioeconomy framework. Its concept revolves around sustainable cultivation and processing of microalgae to produce high-value ingredients for diverse industries. The company operates an industrial facility equipped with cultivation systems, extraction labs, and biostimulants production areas, enabling integrated biorefinery processes. Maria Alvarez Gil explained how the company contributes to environmental sustainability by promoting nutrient recycling, wastewater treatment, and CO₂ capture through microalgae cultivation, subsequently using them for the extraction of ingredients and supporting the circular economy by reusing biomass residues as biofertilizers or feed.

Main points to remember:

• NEOALGAE (Spain, 2012): Biotech company specializing in microalgae-based solutions within the blue circular bioeconomy.
• Integrated biorefinery: Cultivation, extraction, and production of high-value ingredients at industrial scale.
• Sustainability focus: Nutrient recycling, wastewater treatment & CO₂ capture, with residues reused as biofertilizers or feed.

Microalgae as a Source for Commercial Fucoxanthin
👤 Oran Ayalon – ALGALIF

ALGALIF is an Icelandic biotech company founded in 2012, and a world leader in the production of natural astaxanthin using a state-of-the-art production facility featuring advanced tubular photobioreactors and AI-integrated control systems. Beyond astaxanthin, the company now focuses on the development of other microalgae-derived ingredients, and in particular fucoxanthin, a highly abundant marine carotenoid. Oran Ayalon described their research activities, including optimization of strains like Isochrysis and Phaeodactylum for enhanced fucoxanthin yield, employing green extraction technologies such as supercritical CO₂ to ensure purity and safety, as well as challenges related to raw material consistency, extraction efficiency, and regulatory compliance.

Main points to remember:

• Algalíf (Iceland, 2012): Global leader in natural astaxanthin production with advanced photobioreactors & AI control systems.
• Expanding portfolio: Developing new microalgae-derived ingredients, notably fucoxanthin from Isochrysis & Phaeodactylum.
• Green & safe processes: Supercritical CO₂ extraction ensures purity, while addressing challenges of consistency, efficiency & regulation.

🔹 A workshop sparking rich discussions

2 sessions of Interactive discussions between the audience and the speakers also provided additional insights on the development of novel blue biorefineries. The discussions covered diverse topics such as scalability of innovative technologies for industry players, access to funding for novel sustainable approaches, or challenges related to regulatory aspects or available volumes of co-products.

The full replay of the session is available on Youtube : REPLAY Hybrid Workshop – Developing novel Blue biorefineries from aquatic resources