Objective
I.GENERAL BACKGROUND
I.a.Current state-of-the art
Several important factors contribute to the increasing interest world-wide in marine farming. A growing concern regarding food shortage in the next decades, increasing pollution of coastal waters, and fear of global warming due to carbon dioxide emission are typical examples of international concerns which involve oceans and coastal waters.
National programs related to marine production, such as fish-farming, shrimp cultivation, mussel growing seaweed farming, ocean ranching, etc. have been initiated in many countries (Japan, China, USA, France, Norway inter alia). Studies on marine eutrophication/pollution have been undertaken in even more countries, and international programmes are ongoing which cover the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, the Mediterranean Sea and several other areas.
The role of the ocean in carbon cycling has long been acknowledged, and considerable efforts are now devoted to the provision of data needed to quantify the capacity of the marine system for binding of carbon dioxide. A recent proposal by US scientists involves large-scale cultivation of seaweed to bind carbon dioxide and the use of the biomass for provision of energy and raw material instead of the present use of fossil carbon sources.
Japanese workers claim that increasing the net primary production in the sea by fertilization will reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide. At the same time countries around the Baltic and the North Sea have decided to reduce drastically the input of nutrient salts of N and P in an attempt to improve the quality of the corresponding waters. In this context special emphasis should be placed on the position of the Mediterranean and Eastern European countries.
The marine primary biomass holds a key position in marine production. Large-scale cultivation and utilization of seaweed and other marine algae as the basis for improved use of the production potential of coastal waters and the ocean requires genetic improvement of the plants, new cultivation technologies, novel bioconversion processes and detailed knowledge of the biochemistry of the algae.
The COST 48 Action has laid the scientific basis for further work towards multipurpose use of marine production as outlined above and the general opinion nowadays is to emphasize on the farming aspects in the wide sense. It would secure the leading position that the European research groups have gained in this field. The scientific content of this new proposal will be further developed in point III.
Achievements of the past COST Action 48 on "Marine Primary Biomass"
COST 48 research on aquatic primary marine biomass (marine macroalgae) was pursued under the European Communities Biotechnology Programme (BAP) from 1985-1989 and continued in association with the BRIDGE Programme (Biotechnology Research for Innovation, Development and Growth in Europe) for the years 1990-1994.
In its first period COST 48, co-ordinated research from thirteen European countries in basic and applied studies related to biotechnology of marine macroalgae, i.e. Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands, and United Kingdom.
Also during the second period thirteen European countries were actively involved in the COST 48 collaboration.
Important advances in the field of biotransformation of marine biomass, in phycocollod structure and engineering and in application of phycocollods as immobilizing agents in biotechnology were achieved (Co-ordinator: S. Paoletti, Trieste, Italy).
COST 48 co-ordinated research also contributed significantly to the development of fine chemicals (growth substances, plant hormones and immunologically active polysaccharides) from seaweeds (Co-ordinator: G. Blunden, Portsmouth, UK) and to intensive cultivation of selected species (Co-ordinator: Joanna M. Jones, Port Erin, UK).
The most spectacular results came, however, in the field of molecular genetics and in protoplast production, fusion and plant regeneration. During its second period the COST 48 laboratories involved in these studies have made a formidable breakthrough. Large-scale preparation and purification of viable protoplasts from a number of brown and red algae have become routine and provide material for physiological, biochemical and genetic work. A considerable number of algal genes have been identified, cloned and sequenced. Fusion and regeneration procedures have been developed for several species, and the techniques and experience gained in studies of higher plants are now applicable in algal studies as well (Co-ordinator: B. Kloareg, Roscoff, France).
In the field of production and utilization of entire seaweeds progress has been made in:
(a)bioconversion of seaweeds; utilization of seaweeds grown in waste water. Aerobic digestion of seaweeds and use of integrated disposal technology, mixing composting and methanization of algal biomass. Use of macroalgae (Ulva sp.) in compost mixtures of manure and forestry residues (widely used in France) (Co-ordinator: J. De Waart, Zeist, The Netherlands);
(b)control of eutrophication (green tides of macroalgae) of European coastal waters. Documentation of the state-of-the-art and initiation of joint research project in the framework of European programmes (Co-ordinator: W. Schramm, Kiel, Germany);
(c)food and feeding from macroalgae: relevance of algae as human food is increasing in Europe. Search for technologies to improve food quality and avoidance of (unwanted) polyphenols (Co-ordinator: S. Mabeau, Pleubian, France).
I.b.Why the co-operation should be carried out within the context of COST
COST 48 offered a framework for co-operation in Research and Development allowing both the co-ordination of national and international research projects and the participation of non-EC member countries in Community programmes. Co-ordination is accomplished by organizing workshops and scientific meetings. In stimulating mutual co-operation COST 48 funds have been used as "seed money" for the start and the continuation of a considerable number of European research programmes.
In this context COST 48 has been very successful, specifically over the last 5 years: many activities gained momentum, annual workshops have been organized, scientific networks have been developed, roughly 100 laboratories, spread all over Europe are directly or indirectly participating in COST 48 actions.
The economic interest in the exploitation of marine resources increased substantially over the past decade. Prolongation and reorientation of some activities of COST 48 will be in the interest of fostering further biotechnological research and development on marine macroalgae.
Our new project is necessary to meet the future challenges at all levels of integration, from the molecular and biochemical level to the physiology of seaweed individuals and the ecology of populations of seaweed. Although the number of activities with COST 48 was substantial we want to continue in this multidisciplinary direction. From our point of view, the scientific content should not have to be split up in separate COST Actions: all participants of COST 48 use "the language of phycology", which makes co-operation fruitful from the molecular level up the ecosystem level.
I.c.How the proposed Action relates to other international scientific programmes
The proposed COST Action relates to other international programmes in the field of COST Environment (e.g. COST 647), and participates actively in the E.C. programme ENVIRONMENT. The proposed Action participates also in several networks between leading European universities and research institutes.
II.OBJECTIVES OF THE ACTION
The COST Action will achieve two main objectives:
1)to promote and co-ordinate competitive research on the biological, technological and economic use of primary marine biomass derived from macroalgae (seaweeds);
2)to provide a collaborative network covering Western and Eastern European countries, to match with existing industrial activities in the field of macroalgal use.
A holistic strategy for attacking the above problems covering food production, energy provision, biomass for industrial chemicals, eutrophication problems and carbon binding should be aimed at on an international basis. Future COST activities concerned with primary marine farming should be considered in this context.
This new COST Action will secure efficient exploitation of the unique position European research groups have obtained in this field and allow them to continue to lead the development in this fundamental segment of algal biotechnology and ecology.
III.SCIENTIFIC CONTENT
In this COST Action we will put emphasis on genetic improvement, intensive cultivation, biotransformation of algal biomass, the application of marine macroalgae and algal products in biotechnology and establishing the role of macroalgae in coastal eutrophication.
The scientific content of this four year programme (1994-1998) will focus on:
1.Genetic Improvement of Marine Macroalgae
1.1.Protoplast fusion and plant regeneration
1.2.Gene identification, cloning and structural studies
1.3.Gene splicing, introduction of genes into algal protoplast
1.4.Quantitative genetics of seaweeds.
2.Intensive Cultivation of Improved Seaweeds
2.1.Physiology of growth and biomass production
2.2.Techniques for intensified cultivation
3.Application of Algal Products in Biotechnology
3.1.New uses of phycocollods
3.2.Production of low molecular weight fine chemicals.
4.Biotransformation of primary marine biomass
4.1.The role of macro-algae in coastal eutrophication processes
4.2.The intermediate position of macro-algae in waste water treatment
4.3.Conversion to methane: including regulation of anaerobic processes and genetic improvement of involved microorganisms
4.4.Bioconversion to alcohols, fatty acids, etc.; including processes and microorganisms
4.5.Partial bioconversion to food and feed for humans, cattle and fish.
Besides the specific activities to be derived from the working plans of the three Working groups (see point V "Organization and Management"), the programmes for 1994 and 1995 contain a number of general, concrete aims:
1.Preparation of a "Directory of European Research and Economic Activities in the field of Marine Primary Biomass";
2.Preparation of the draft of a major "European Research Programme in Marine Primary Biomass";
3.Initiation of a collaborative network directed at stimulating research activities in Central and Eastern European countries.
IV.TIMETABLE
The time required to execute the scientific programme will be four years. The evaluation of the progress of the action will be performed by annual meetings, dealing with specific subjects from the Action programme. The schedule for these meetings is as follows:
1994:Genetic improvement of specific marine macroalgae. Application of technologies from molecular biology and genetics in the field of marine macroalgae
1995:Application of biotechnology in the field of macroalgal components (phycocollods and fine chemicals)
1996:Biotransformation and utilization of seaweeds; the search for novel technologies
1997:Competitive multidisciplinary research on marine macroalgae from the molecular to the ecosystem level.
A final meeting will be held in 1998 to evaluate the achievements of this COST action. International experts from outside Europe will be invited to participate and to provide a critical statement on the achievements gained.
Schedule:
-Working group 1 : 2 to 3 meetings (workshops) per year
-Working group 2 : 2 to 3 meetings (workshops) per year.
-Working group 3 : 2 to 3 meetings (workshops) per year.
-Management Committee : 1 annual meeting.
-Annual Evaluation Meeting for specific aspects of the COST Action:
1 annual meeting, to be combined with the Management Committee Meeting.
-Meeting for Final Evaluation of the COST Action (including experts from non-European countries) : 1 meeting.
V.ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT
The Action will be divided into the following 3 Working groups:
1)Genetics improvement and intensive cultivation of marine macroalgae
2)Phycocollods and fine chemicals from marine macroalgae
3)Production and utilization of entire marine macroalgae.
Co-ordinators of these Working groups will be appointed by the Management Committee. The Working Groups will organize regular meetings (Workshops) to co-ordinate and promote research activities.
Annual Evaluation Meetings will be organized:
1)To promote co-operation between the participating institutions;
2)To evaluate the progress in the Working groups and to check the international competitiveness and applicability of the results gained;
3)To stimulate and manage the process of publishing the results in internationally refereed scientific journals.
Emphasis will be placed on promoting research on marine primary biomass from macroalgae in Eastern European countries, by organizing Workshops on the development and applicability of novel experimental approaches and technologies.
The Management Committee, representing the participating countries, will meet at least once a year, preferably in conjunction with the Annual Evaluation Meeting.
VIECONOMIC DIMENSION OF THE ACTION
Estimated costs of personnel paid from national sources, and involved in research on the use of primary marine biomass (note: man-year = human year):
-Personnel from Western European countries:120 man-years scientists
: 60 man-years technicians
-Personnel from Eastern European countries: 10 man-years scientists
: 10 man-years technicians
-Estimated personnel costs:80 man-years x ECU 60 000= ECU 4,8 million
80 man-years x ECU 40 000 = ECU 3,2 million
40 man-years x ECU 20 000 = ECU 0,8 million
Annual laboratory equipment investments and consumables= ECU 6 million
Overhead costs= ECU 3 million
Total estimated costs covered from national sources= ECU 17,8 million.
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106 91 Stockholm
Sweden
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