The Context

Transforming Fish By-Products: A Path to Sustainability and Economic Efficiency

Annually, over 90 million tons of fish and shellfish are caught globally. After capture, fish undergo processing, which often results in large quantities of by-products, such as heads, bones, guts, and shells.

These by-products represent between 30 and 70 per cent of the whole fish and provide a good source of macro- and micronutrients. Yet, they often go underutilised and end up as waste resulting in an important environmental footprint and economic inefficiency. In this context, finding sustainable valorisation routes for this biomass is a key path for real circular bioeconomy sustainability.

VALORISH Project

Marine biologist analyzes a tube for scientific research

VALORISH is a research project funded under the Horizon Europe framework aligned with HORIZON-CL6-2023-CIRCBIO-02. Our mission is to develop and scale up a computationally assisted cascade valorisation approach for waste and by-products from the fishing industry, transforming these resources into high-value bioproducts targeting food applications.

Our project focuses on creating more sustainable bio-based processes and products, aiming to reduce environmental impact and drive future advancements in marine biotechnology. By minimising the reliance on low-value management routes like silage, compost, or biogas production, and avoiding direct disposal of fishing industry waste, VALORISH supports the Waste Framework Directive and the EU Bioeconomy Strategy, contributing to climate neutrality.

Objectives

The main objective of VALORISH is to design, implement and optimise a circular zero-waste biorefinery supported by computational methodologies to valorise fish waste and by-products while producing high-value bioproducts that target food products, nutraceuticals, food additives or food supplements by using novel technologies. To this end, the project aims to:

Identify, manage, and extract fish oil and fish protein hydrolysates (FPH) from fishing industry wastes and by-products.

Obtain bioproducts by fermentation using the FPH as substrate and to valorise the side streams from the VALORISH biorefinery.

Analyse, purify, formulate, and test the bio-based products obtained.

Design, optimise and integrate the VALORISH core processes employing innovative and robust computational tools.

Validate the core units of the VALORISH biorefinery at TRL5.

Evaluate the three pillars of sustainability (environmental, economic and social) of the VALORISH processes and products

Develop and implement a dynamic communication strategy aligned with a robust dissemination and exploitation plan to maximize VALORISH impact.

Impact

Sustainability

Enhance the sustainability of industrial biomass resources by means of waste valorisation, lowering land dependence, protecting biodiversity, and respecting ecosystem integrity. Contribute to climate neutrality, zero pollution and resource efficiency through the circular (bio)economy concept.

Climate Neutrality and Circular Economy

Contribute to climate neutrality, zero pollution and resource efficiency through the circular (bio)economy concept.

Industrial Competitiveness

Improve industrial competitiveness, strategic autonomy, and resource independence of bio-based value chains of EU Member States and Associated Countries.

Local Benefits

Provide environmental, economic, and social benefits at the local level by increasing the circularity and upcycling of low-value biomass from aquatic origin, into high-value applications.

SME Engagement and Job Creation

Engage with SMEs ensuring they play a crucial role in driving the transition towards a more sustainable, circular economy, while also contributing to the overall economic resilience of the regions involved.

Cooperation and Awareness in Bio-based Value Chains

Foster cooperation and awareness across circular bio-based value chains, including waste managers, biomass feedstock providers, bio-based industry, end-users, and civil society.

Numbers

Months

3,9

Millions €

Countries

Partners

Project Workpackages

Project Progress

17%

WP1

Feedstock management, extraction and hydrolysis biorefinery technol

Leader: ANFACO
Month: 1-30

23%

WP2

Bioproducts production and side-stream Valorisation

Leader: SINTEF
Month: 8-36

WP3

High-value bioproduct analysis, organoleptic properties enhancement

Leader: NOFIMA
Month: 10-42

WP4

Computational methodologies for process design, integration and mod

Leader: IDENER
Month: 1-38

18%

WP5

Conceptual engineering design and pilot-scale biorefinery processes

Leader: BIOTREND
Month: 22-42

WP6

Process Assessment and Feasibility

Leader: BLUES
Month: 3-42

WP7

Communication, Dissemination and Exploitation

Leader: KNEIA
Month: 1-42

18%

WP8

Project Coordination

Leader: IDENER
Month: 1-42

18%