The session presented EU-funded projects working with very different materials. GREENLIFE4SEAS turns mussel shells and dredged harbour sediments into paving and breakwater blocks, and LIFE MUSCLES tested biodegradable mussel socks and a mobile recycling plant that had treated almost 100 tonnes of polypropylene by the end of 2025. Horizon Europe projects VALORISH, AQUAPHOENIX and CIRCALGAE are developing routes to recover fish oil and protein, convert farm sludge into fertilisers and biogas, and process seaweed and microalgae side-streams into higher-value ingredients, while BlueAquaEdu mapped 234 aquaculture education establishments across 18 EU countries.

A new background paper from the EU Aquaculture Assistance Mechanism, linked to the Strategic Guidelines for EU aquaculture, groups the options into three routes: using more circular inputs, making better use of side-streams, and connecting aquaculture waste streams with other industries. It also identifies barriers to scaling, including regulatory uncertainty, infrastructure, finance and skills.

#CircularFoodChain #FoodValorisation #ResourceEfficientFood