INNOAQUA Newsletter: february 2024

Innoaqua - Algae Powder Spoon

TURNING FISH PROCESSING WASTE INTO A SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION

Within the INNOAQUA project, our project partner Leitat plays a pivotal role in the production of innovative Fish Protein Hydrolysates (FPHs) from fish processing by-products. These FPHs are used for the development of novel seafood and plant-based food formulations. Specifically, Leitat is demonstrating pre-industrial scale processes for protein extraction from alternative sources, contributing to the valorization of fish processing waste.

Non-compliant surimi sticks that do not meet the requirements for human consumption, are the main alternative protein source considered within the project. This is a jellified mass of difficult handling, even as for animal feed, and cannot be easily reutilized due to its consistency. However, its high content in protein (28-36% dry weight) makes this by-product a promising raw material to produce protein hydrolysates. Leitat takes advantage of its deep experience in enzymatic processes to develop a sustainable hydrolytic process to extract and hydrolyse the protein into a novel FPH. In parallel, salmon heads and skins, protein rich fish by products, which are not always possible to valorise for human consumption or pet food because the market is getting saturated, are also considered as raw material to produce FHPs.

The molecular profile of produced FPHs, with high protein content (40-80%), peptides and presence of valuable and essential amino acids such as glutamic acid, aspartic acid, leucine, glycine, arginine and proline, which make them promising candidates to be functional ingredients. The innovative FPH will be tested for their bioactive capacity (such as antioxidant, antihypertensive and anti-inflammatory bioactivity) and techno-functionalities (solubility, water holding capacity, jellifying, emulsifying, sensorial properties) in order to obtain products that meet the requirements of food formulators in terms of characteristics, safety, quality and regulatory compliance.


Innoaqua - ALGAEUROPE 2024

EVENTS: ALGAEUROPE 2024

On December 13, 2024, the INNOAQUA project was featured at the ALGAEUROPE conference, a key international event focused on algae research and its applications. Held in Athens, the conference convened experts from academia, industry, and policy sectors to discuss advancements in algae technologies and their role in sustainability.

During the conference, INNOAQUA representatives from NORCE and A4F provided an overview of the project’s research, including advancements in algae cultivation systems. These innovations aim to reduce the environmental footprint of aquaculture while ensuring high-quality outputs. In the oral presentation by Pia Steinrücken from NORCE, she focused on the use of effluent water from salmon production in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) for the production of microalgae, where high nutrient removal rates as well as high biomass productivities were achieved.

Though the results varied throughout the production cycle of salmon from freshwater to brackish water to seawater, leading to increasing nutrient loads in the water with increasing fish size, and while using different microalgal species for each phase to cope with the differences in salinity. Results that haven’t been analyzed yet will give us insight in the possible contaminants, both chemical and biological, and next steps will look at how to deal with these. So keep following our social media or website to stay up to date!


Innoaqua- Regional Aquaculture Conference

EVENTS: REGIONAL AQUACULTURE CONFERENCE IN HERAKLION

On December 4-5, 2024, the INNOAQUA Project proudly participated in the Regional Aquaculture Conference organized by the FAO and GFCM in Heraklion, Greece. The conference brought together experts, stakeholders, and researchers from across the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions to share experiences, discuss challenges, and explore opportunities for collaboration in advancing sustainable aquaculture practices.


Innoaqua - EAStalk Podcast

UPCOMING WEBINAR: EAStalk webinar “The INNOAQUA approach to coupled algae and fish production to produce high value food products”

Date: February 11th, 2025

Time: 2:00 pm CET

Duration: 45 minutes

As global food systems face challenges from population growth and environmental constraints, aquaculture stands out as a vital solution. This EAStalk webinar provides an overview of the EU-funded INNOAQUA project that has been running for 18 months and is using innovative approaches for an integrated use of algae in sustainable aquaculture practices and high-value food applications

Webinar Highlights

The webinar will describe the approach, the coupled algae and fish production (salmon, sole), the algal extractions and their potential uses. It will also focus on the value of international cooperation in new food products based on algae.


innoaqua - EAStalk Podcast

PODCAST: DIVE INTO SUSTAINABILITY WITH THE EASTALK PODCAST FEATURING THE INNOAQUA PROJECT

Are you ready to explore groundbreaking innovations in sustainable aquaculture? The latest episode of the EAStalk Podcast is here, featuring the trailblazing INNOAQUA Project.

This episode brings together three dynamic voices in sustainability:

  • Dorinde Kleinegris (Norce, Norway)
  • Xavier Ponte Font (Norce, Norway)
  • Laura Larrivière (Eco Imagination, France)
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Latest news

Within the INNOAQUA project, our project partner Leitat plays a pivotal role in the production of innovative Fish Protein Hydrolysates (FPHs) from fish processing by-products. These FPHs are used for the development of novel seafood and plant-based food formulations. Specifically, Leitat is demonstrating pre-industrial scale processes for protein extraction from alternative sources, contributing to the valorization of fish processing waste.