Periodic Reporting for period 1 - IMPRESS (INNOVATIVE APPROACHES FOR MARINE AND FRESHWATER BASED INGREDIENTS TO DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE FOODS AND VALUE CHAINS)
Période du rapport: 2023-05-01 au 2024-10-31
The IMPRESS Project aims to address the urgent need to make Europe’s marine and freshwater bio-based systems sustainable, resource-efficient, and waste-free. Currently, a large portion of seafood production goes unused, with valuable nutrients lost as waste, and low-trophic species (LTS) often discarded or only minimally used. Using energy-efficient technologies, IMPRESS aims to transform these low-value resources into high-value products, such as alternative food and feed ingredients, bio-fertilisers, biodegradable packaging, and nutrient-rich LTS-based formulations. The project is building a robust bioeconomy that supports a sustainable and inclusive future for local communities. On a social level, IMPRESS aims to educate and raise awareness among people across Europe and beyond about the environmental and health benefits of sustainably produced seafood products, with over 10,000 people reached so far. The environmental impacts include targets for a 30% reduction in waste, a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions, and significantly lower the amount of waste sent to landfills across the seafood supply chain. IMPRESS’s efforts demonstrate how innovative approaches to resource use can create a positive impact on both people and the planet.
The general objective of IMPRESS is to co-create, deliver and promote new products and improved processes from freshwater and marine low–trophic species. IMPRESS will achieve this with five key specific objectives that will address key sustainability challenges that exist within the Blue Bioeconomy sector from primary production to consumption.
1. To apply user-participatory approach to innovation process to achieve responsible production, consumption and disposal of low tropic species (LTS) waste and ensure social sustainability of project results
2. To develop comprehensive training and outreach programmes for blue economy professionals and promote the exchange of results and best practices
3. To develop new value chains using a zero-waste approach from processing streams of LTS
4. To assess and enhance environmental and economic sustainability of new and existing value chains developed for LTS
5. To co-create, deliver and promote diverse range of new food and feed products from LTS, including packaging formulated to fulfil the consumer’s requirements
The general objective of IMPRESS is to co-create, deliver and promote new products and improved processes from freshwater and marine low–trophic species. IMPRESS will achieve this with five key specific objectives that will address key sustainability challenges that exist within the Blue Bioeconomy sector from primary production to consumption.
1. To apply user-participatory approach to innovation process to achieve responsible production, consumption and disposal of low tropic species (LTS) waste and ensure social sustainability of project results
2. To develop comprehensive training and outreach programmes for blue economy professionals and promote the exchange of results and best practices
3. To develop new value chains using a zero-waste approach from processing streams of LTS
4. To assess and enhance environmental and economic sustainability of new and existing value chains developed for LTS
5. To co-create, deliver and promote diverse range of new food and feed products from LTS, including packaging formulated to fulfil the consumer’s requirements
• A pan-European survey was conducted to analyse consumer preferences, habits, barriers, and attitudes toward seafood, plant-based, and aquatic plant-based products across six countries.
• Co-creation sessions in three countries engaged experts to identify underutilized LTS and explore sustainable use methods.
• A report identified stakeholders and mapped existing LTS-based products.
• A capitalisation report template was finalised to document findings from EU projects, supported by interviews with project and business representatives.
• Templates for collecting educational materials were prepared.
• Advanced processes were optimised to extract chitin and chitosan from shrimp shell waste.
• Fish protein isolates, hydrolysates, and lipids from haddock waste using eco-friendly technologies.
• Mussel cooking and fish processing wastewater were valorised to extract proteins.
• Duckweed was cultivated on wastewater from different fish and shellfish processing stages, and on drinking water. Drinking water-cultivated duckweed showed better nutritional composition than commercial ones and comparable to fish meal.
• Four species of microalgae were cultivated under optimised conditions.
• Established advanced systems integrating macroalgae and salmon farming.
• High value polysaccharides and proteins were recovered from macroalgae via biorefinery approach.
• Collagen was extracted from lumpfish.
• Duckweed extracts demonstrated health-protective bioactivities.
• Functional properties of duckweed-based formulations of fish feed outperformed fishmeal and soybean meal replacements.
• A combination of microalgal extract and microalgae-derived oil demonstrated liver-protective properties.
• Technical definitions of feed to be produced were finalised.
• Freshwater bream derived fish paté from trial runs were showcased at an expo.
• Sprat was selected for fish meal production.
• Fish cakes and fish fingers were identified for product development.
• Brainstorming sessions were conducted to to assess product options based on nutrition, feasibility, demand, and regulations.
• Various polymer blends were developed at the pilot scale level.
• Natural antifungal agents were used directly or were chemically modified to enhance their heat tolerance during manufacture of packaging materials.
• Developed polymer blends were found to be suitable for manufacturing food trays.
• Suitable combinations of inks and polymers were identified for developing intelligent packaging.
• Surveys of micro- and meso- level stakeholders were conducted to identify daily fish waste/by-product generation patterns.
• Tools have been fixed for assessment of environmental, economic, and social sustainability.
• Co-creation sessions in three countries engaged experts to identify underutilized LTS and explore sustainable use methods.
• A report identified stakeholders and mapped existing LTS-based products.
• A capitalisation report template was finalised to document findings from EU projects, supported by interviews with project and business representatives.
• Templates for collecting educational materials were prepared.
• Advanced processes were optimised to extract chitin and chitosan from shrimp shell waste.
• Fish protein isolates, hydrolysates, and lipids from haddock waste using eco-friendly technologies.
• Mussel cooking and fish processing wastewater were valorised to extract proteins.
• Duckweed was cultivated on wastewater from different fish and shellfish processing stages, and on drinking water. Drinking water-cultivated duckweed showed better nutritional composition than commercial ones and comparable to fish meal.
• Four species of microalgae were cultivated under optimised conditions.
• Established advanced systems integrating macroalgae and salmon farming.
• High value polysaccharides and proteins were recovered from macroalgae via biorefinery approach.
• Collagen was extracted from lumpfish.
• Duckweed extracts demonstrated health-protective bioactivities.
• Functional properties of duckweed-based formulations of fish feed outperformed fishmeal and soybean meal replacements.
• A combination of microalgal extract and microalgae-derived oil demonstrated liver-protective properties.
• Technical definitions of feed to be produced were finalised.
• Freshwater bream derived fish paté from trial runs were showcased at an expo.
• Sprat was selected for fish meal production.
• Fish cakes and fish fingers were identified for product development.
• Brainstorming sessions were conducted to to assess product options based on nutrition, feasibility, demand, and regulations.
• Various polymer blends were developed at the pilot scale level.
• Natural antifungal agents were used directly or were chemically modified to enhance their heat tolerance during manufacture of packaging materials.
• Developed polymer blends were found to be suitable for manufacturing food trays.
• Suitable combinations of inks and polymers were identified for developing intelligent packaging.
• Surveys of micro- and meso- level stakeholders were conducted to identify daily fish waste/by-product generation patterns.
• Tools have been fixed for assessment of environmental, economic, and social sustainability.
• Co-creation sessions, stakeholder mapping and communication activities have raised awareness on potential of LTS and seafood side streams, sustainable resource management, and market entry strategies.
• Consumer surveys provided insights into preferences, adoption barriers, and waste patterns, helping create efficient, consumer-focused, and sustainable food systems.
• Process optimisation using energy-efficient methods for extracting high-value ingredients from LTS and seafood by-products cuts costs, reduces processing time, and generates marketable by-products, enhancing economic and environmental benefits.
• Growing LTS in wastewater reduces water treatment costs and transforms waste into value.
• Duckweed and microalgae cultivation offer eco-friendly, economically viable alternatives for fish feed.
• Development of biodegradable packaging, alternative proteins, bioactives, and nutrient-rich formulations meets rising demand for sustainable food, feed, and nutraceutical solutions.
• Impact assessment tools ensure scalable, sustainable solutions.
• Educational programs and trade fair exhibitions help communities adopt new products and address environmental and food production challenges.
• Consumer surveys provided insights into preferences, adoption barriers, and waste patterns, helping create efficient, consumer-focused, and sustainable food systems.
• Process optimisation using energy-efficient methods for extracting high-value ingredients from LTS and seafood by-products cuts costs, reduces processing time, and generates marketable by-products, enhancing economic and environmental benefits.
• Growing LTS in wastewater reduces water treatment costs and transforms waste into value.
• Duckweed and microalgae cultivation offer eco-friendly, economically viable alternatives for fish feed.
• Development of biodegradable packaging, alternative proteins, bioactives, and nutrient-rich formulations meets rising demand for sustainable food, feed, and nutraceutical solutions.
• Impact assessment tools ensure scalable, sustainable solutions.
• Educational programs and trade fair exhibitions help communities adopt new products and address environmental and food production challenges.