THE INNOVATION

REMEDIA sets among its objectives the development of technological innovations for the reduction of the environmental impacts of mariculture plants. The innovativeness at European level is given by the use of a new set of biorimediator organisms that have shown to have a bioremediation effect of the marine environment greater than the commonly used organisms.

Polychaete and sponges are more efficient than mussels in removing suspended waste material. Based on data acquired in previous experiences Co-culture with Porifera produces a further decrease in bacterial concentration. Finally, in the case of macroalgae, a removal of the nitrogen and phosphorus load can be achieved. In the short / medium term, therefore, the system is expected to determine an environmental bioremediation. The improvement of the environment will be positively reflected on the quality of edible biomass produced, evaluated according to the European Commission and FAO.

REMEDIA also aims to promote the entry of these new technologies into the European market.

For this purpose: a) obtained biomass (edible and not) will be exploited / commercialized, b) a managerial plan will be drawn up by the company aimed at greater sustainability of its activities, and which could be borrowed in other European contexts, c) an exchange between the scientific community and stakeholders (entrepreneurs in the mariculture sector, etc.) will be open encouraging the signing of agreements for the replicability-transferability-use of the project results at European level.

Marginally, the topic will also be addressed: Marine and coastal management – marine litter or microbial contaminants – Projects aiming at reducing marine litter and microbial contaminants, addressing the sources of marine litter and microbial contaminants (N. 2). The bioremediation technologies developed in REMEDIA (IMTA system with polychaetes, porifera, mussels and macroalgae) will in fact lead to the reduction of marine pollution (in particular microbiological contamination) due to mariculture plants, even in confined areas subject to anthropic stress. In the short / medium term a bioremediation of the waters surrounding the plant is expected, as well as of the sediments compared to the starting phase of the project.

REMEDIA represents the transition from the research to the industrial phase and is the basis of a process that goes from producers to the industry of processing and use of products. The originality lies in the marketing (other than mussels) of high quality non-edible biomass. In Europe, the entire bioeconomy field produces hundreds of billions of euros and millions of employees and the proposed use of non-edible biomass can therefore satisfy the interest of a growing market sector. Considering that the non-edible biomasses are a by-product of bioremediation that do not involve additional costs, direct sales in the company could bring high sources of income, in line with the themes of BLUE GROWTH.