Blue Bioeconomy Pact | Vertical Algae

Brief Project Description

The main objective of the Blue Bioeconomy Pact is to reindustrialize Portuguese industries by integrating blue biotechnology solutions into value chains, boosting the sustainable use of marine bio-resources to increase added value through carbon-neutral innovation.

The Pact is organized into seven industrial verticals, corresponding to different value chains, each of which is led by a qualified company that is a benchmark in its respective field.

• Vertical ALGAS (ALGAE) | Algae production and processing led by Necton;
• Vertical BIVALVES | Regenerative bivalve aquaculture that uses innovative approaches to cultivate high-value European species, led by Oceano Fresco;
• PISCICULTURE (FISH) Vertical Focus on product traceability and the creation of artificial intelligence systems for detecting parasites in wild fish, which will be led by the SONAE Group, through MC Shared Services;
• FOOD Vertical Ecological and nutritional optimization of the final product, canned food, with a view to reducing the waste derived from its consumption, led by Cofisa;
• Vertical RATIONS (FEED) | Functional feed for aquaculture, based on food waste from various sources, with the construction of a new industrial unit planned, led by the SEMAPA Group, through ETSA;
• Vertical BIOMATERIALS | Development of resins of marine origin for cork composite products, increasing the incorporation of biological materials in the products developed by Amorim Cork Composites;
• Vertical TEXTILES | New clothing and footwear line with material based on algae biomass and the use of fishing nets, and the respective processing with dyeing and functional finishes applied to knitwear and marine-based fabrics, in a project led by the TMG group.

InnovPlantProtect (InPP) is participating in Vertical Algae, which involves a total of 38 entities, including companies, universities, CoLABs and Research and Development (R&D) centers, will have funding of 44 million euros, and aims to provide the national algae sector with the necessary capacity and competitive advantages, based on new sustainable products, processes and services, to compete in global markets and raise the national brand in the European blue bioeconomy.

O Vertical Algae is co-financed by the Next Generation EU Funds, through the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), which is the largest initiative in the Blue Bioeconomy Pact agenda.

Project file available here.

FINANCING