BIOMARES sets sail to explore the unknown field of blue biotechnology
Our seas and oceans harbor an extraordinary wealth of marine organisms, ranging from bacteria, fungi and sponges to algae. These organisms can be screened for their potential as sustainable producers of high value components (e.g. omega-3 fats and antioxidants). These components have applications in a wide range of sectors such as agriculture, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
Marine biotechnology has tremendous potential ranging from drug development to food and biofuel production. In addition to the above, current and potential markets for marine biological resources include the development of nutraceuticals, cosmetics, agrochemicals, molecular markers, enzymes, fine chemicals, proteins, biopolymers, biomaterials, etc. Face creams containing seaweed extracts, for instance, are selling well, and chitosan, a sugar obtained from the hard skeleton of crustaceans such as crabs, lobsters and shrimps, is being used as a food supplement and drug to treat high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, wound healing, etc.
With the new BIOMARES platform, UGent invests in research and innovation in the domain of Marine Biotechnology. The platform is supported by the Industrial Research Fund (IOF) and will mainly focus on the development of processes and applications in the field of biorefining of marine resources and marine bio-actives. Biorefinery is a process that allows the extraction of multiple components from biomass.
New products from the sea
BIOMARES is a collaboration between the UGent IOF consortia BLUEGent, CropFit, End-of-Waste, ChemTech and Biomolecules. These five consortia unite knowledge of primary and secondary marine biomass (BLUEGent), bio-stimulants and biopesticides (CropFit), biorefinery, extraction, fermentation and purification (End-Of-Waste), biomaterials (ChemTech) and modification of biopolymers (Biomolecules), across research groups and faculties. The new platform focuses on translating the expertise of the above mentioned consortia into a marine context. This offers numerous new valorization opportunities for UGent, including new:
- Innovative products that enhance the growth and resistance of our crops (bio-stimulants), but also biopesticides and food additives;
- Techniques for extracting biomass from marine organisms, as well as techniques for increasing production;
- Methods for water treatment that can be applied in the aquaculture sector;
- Protocols for aquaculture production.
These should result in new collaborations with industry partners and new spin-off opportunities.
Industry panel from various sectors
An industry panel will be established in the context of the BIOMARES platform. This panel will group companies from various sectors, including bio-economy, agrochemicals, food, polymers, aquaculture and fisheries. One or two workshops will be organized annually, during which new concepts will be presented to evaluate their feasibility and market opportunity, and to identify opportunities for collaboration. In this way, the developed technologies and products can be brought to the market as smoothly as possible.
Is your company interested in participating?
Companies interested in joining the industry panel can contact:
Margriet Drouillon, business developer
margriet.drouillon@ugent.be – cell +32 484 13 95 39
