What can shrimp shells, blue crabs, and seaweed become?
MARMADE, one of the five projects collaborating within the CIRCULARIS BioCluster, is exploring how underused marine biomass can be transformed into sustainable, high-value ingredients for food and animal feed.
The project focuses on resources including crustacean residues, such as shrimp shells and blue crabs, as well as seaweed. Through innovative processing approaches, MARMADE aims to recover a range of functional ingredients and use them in new food and feed prototypes with enhanced nutritional, functional, and sensory properties.
By developing efficient and scalable processes for marine biomass valorisation, MARMADE contributes to more circular and resource-efficient food systems. As part of the CIRCULARIS BioCluster, the project brings complementary expertise in marine biomass processing and sustainable food and feed innovation.
From Lab to Value: See MARMADE Research in Action
The transition towards a circular blue bioeconomy depends not only on innovative ideas, but also on the scientific processes and people that turn those ideas into practical solutions.
A recent MARMADE article offers a closer look at this work through two videos showing different aspects of the project’s research.
The first video demonstrates the preparation of Deep Eutectic Solvents (DES). These liquid systems are being explored for the selective extraction of valuable compounds such as astaxanthin from crustacean residues.
The second video focuses on the researchers behind MARMADE and their work on transforming crustacean residues into bio-based materials such as chitosan. Through laboratory techniques and innovative processing approaches, the project is investigating how new value can be created from marine biomass.
Together, the videos provide a glimpse into both the scientific processes and the people contributing to MARMADE’s work.
Watch both videos and discover MARMADE in action: https://marmade-project.eu/from-lab-to-value-marmade-in-action/
MARMADE Presents Its Research at RRB 2026
From 1 to 4 June 2026, MARMADE was presented at the 22nd International Conference on Renewable Resources & Biorefineries in Leuven, Belgium.
Representing the project, Erik Malta from CTAQUA presented a poster highlighting MARMADE’s work on marine biomass sourcing. The poster introduced the project’s two complementary value chains and presented the main bioactive extracts being targeted, together with their intended applications in the food and feed sectors.
The conference also provided opportunities for exchange with researchers, industry representatives, policymakers, and other stakeholders from across the bio-based economy.
Among the topics discussed were the challenges and opportunities associated with the valorisation of invasive marine species. These exchanges addressed regulatory considerations as well as the need to balance environmental sustainability with economic viability when developing new approaches to marine resource use.
Participation in RRB 2026 enabled MARMADE to share its research with the wider bioeconomy community and contribute to discussions on sustainable resource management and circular bio-based solutions.
Discover more and explore the MARMADE conference poster: https://marmade-project.eu/marmade-at-the-rrb-conference-in-belgium/
Connecting Marine Innovation Across the CIRCULARIS BioCluster
MARMADE’s work demonstrates how underused marine resources can become starting points for new ingredients, materials, and products.
Together with ONE EARTH, VALORISH, PROMISEANG, and FOODIMAR, MARMADE contributes to the CIRCULARIS BioCluster’s shared ambition to strengthen knowledge exchange, explore synergies, and increase the impact of circular bio-based innovation across Europe.
Stay tuned for more research stories and news from the projects behind the CIRCULARIS BioCluster.