Regional Case Studies

As part of Work Package 2, BlueBioClusters set out to define Blue Bioeconomy value chains, as well as illustrate their growing importance and relevance for the economies of coastal regions.

In doing so, Deliverable 2.3 “Blue Bio Value Chain & Social Enterprises Cases” set out to analyse eight companies operating in blue bioeconomy value chains in the BlueBioCluster Regions. These case studies are intended to be an inspiration for stakeholders inside and outside the BBC region, and to support them to better understand the opportunities linked to operating in the various value chains.

1. Eylíf

Eylíf, founded in 2018, offers sustainably produced, high-quality biomasses from Iceland. They create food supplements using these resources, promoting health preservation. Their philosophy is “The first wealth is your health.” They’ve been part of the Iceland Ocean Cluster since 2018, creating opportunities for blue value chains by-product producers.

Read our case study on Eylíf here.

2. OCEANIUM

OCEANIUM is a Scottish-based company established in 2018 that uses sustainably sourced seaweed to create natural and innovative products, such as high-purity bioactives for nutrition and cosmeceuticals, plant-based food ingredients, and innovative materials. Their mission is to “Kelp the World”, as they aim to integrate seaweed into our daily lives to benefit our health and the planet. With decades of experience in marine science, they can extract the maximum value from the seaweed using innovative refinery technology.

Read our case study on OCEANIUM here.

3. Colruyt Group

Colruyt Group is a prominent Belgian retail group that works in several sectors, including food distribution, food services, and green energy production. The Group is dedicated to sustainable entrepreneurship and has committed to over 150 sustainable initiatives encompassing various impact areas, including reducing their environmental footprint. As part of this, they have established the very first commercial sea farm in the Belgian North Sea, where they are currently producing mussels.

Read our case study on the Colruyt Group’s mussel farm here.

4. SEAentia

SEAentia is a Portuguese start-up founded in 2017 by four academics. Their primary goal is to produce sustainable, healthy seafood for human consumption. They specialise in producing Meagre (Argyrosomus regius) using a Recirculating Aquaculture System. They aim to become a global leader in the aquaculture industry by exploring new fish species and setting up new farms worldwide. Their pilot system serves as a research and development centre, and they collaborate with various national and international partners.

Read our case study on SEAentia here.

5. C Food Norway

C Food Norway is a world-leading enterprise that commercialises by-products from whitefish to promote more sustainable seafood consumption. The company purchases raw materials from Norwegian fishing fleets and aquaculture providers, uses regional facilities to process its products, and collaborates closely with regional producers and European and Asian international partners to facilitate further processing and product sales inside and outside Europe.

Read our case study on C Food Norway here.

6. Nordic SeaFarm

On a farm located off the West Coast of Sweden, Nordic SeaFarm cultivates and harvests various seaweed species and works on developing new products and services to find innovative ways of scaling seaweed production. Through cooperation and partnerships, Nordic SeaFarm is also dedicated to exploring new seaweed applications and promoting multi-use marine practices.

Read our case study on Nordic SeaFarm here.

7. Noras LT

Noras LT is a company based in Lithuania that specialises in innovative aquaculture and RAS. Their main product is Arctic Charr, a salmonid fish that thrives in cold water. They are committed to sustainability and recycle 99% of their water, using advanced water treatment technologies developed by their Norwegian partner company, Noras Watertech. The company places a strong emphasis on research and development and works closely with scientific institutions to contribute to ongoing research and development in the field of aquaculture.

Read our case study on Noras LT here.

8. Vetik

Vetik is an Estonian-based start-up founded in 2017. The company focuses on discovering innovative ways to valorise a local wild red seaweed called Furcellaria lumbricalis. It grows in the sea between the two biggest islands of Estonia – Saaremaa and Hiiumaa, in the West Estonian Archipelago. The company aims to develop algae-based products to utilise local red seaweed’s full potential, e.g., a new bio-stimulant and a red colourant for row crops. Read our case study on Vetik here.

9. PhosphoTech

PhosphoTech, based in Nantes, France, produces nutraceuticals from blue biomasses, including fish by-products, molluscs, crustaceans, micro-and macro algae. The company, pioneering in its sector, believes in utilising the entire biomass to enhance human health and animal nutrition. Strong partnerships with innovation clusters and research institutes ensure innovative product development. With rising global demand, PhosphoTech plans to expand in the coming years. Read our case study on PhosphoTech here.