MARMADE (Marine biomass valorization for food and feed innovation) is a new Circular Bio-based Europe-funded project. It aims to produce sustainable, high-value food and feed ingredients from underutilised marine biomass, specifically the shells of shrimps, blue crabs and other crustaceans, along with green, red and brown seaweeds.

Its main goal is to establish advanced biorefinery processes for extracting bioactive compounds such as prebiotics, vitamins, peptides and lipids. These will be used to design innovative, nutritious food and feed prototypes with improved sensory and functional properties – all while reducing dependency on petrochemical inputs and promoting circularity in marine value chains.

MARMADE will demonstrate two new marine biomass value chains: crustacean residues and seaweed. The result should be a portfolio of affordable, safe and nutritionally enhanced food and feed ingredients.

In addition to scientific and technological advancements, MARMADE is expected to reduce waste and emissions, generate green jobs and build consumer trust in sustainable marine ingredients.

The project is coordinated by the University of Camerino, bringing together 11 partners from seven European countries and combining universities, research and technology organisations, and innovative SMEs across the marine bioeconomy value chain.