Turning algae and fishery waste into biofuels and biomolecules by Clust-ER Green Tech and CRPA

The proposed initiative aims to transform waste and by-products from algae, fisheries, and aquaculture into valuable resources such as biofuels and high-value biomolecules. With an estimated 7,000 tons of fish waste produced annually in the Emilia-Romagna, the project seeks to map and quantify available biomass, characterize its chemical and energy properties, and develop optimized anaerobic digestion processes for biogas and biomethane production. In parallel, the project will explore extraction technologies to recover valuable compounds (including proteins, polyunsaturated fats, collagen, carbohydrates, chitin, polyphenols, carotenoids, and vitamins) for applications in the food, agricultural, biotechnology, and materials sectors. Expected impacts include reducing waste across the fish supply chain, generating new revenue opportunities, and strengthening technological innovation across multiple industrial sectors, from energy to chemistry. Challenges such as economic uncertainty, technological immaturity, and regulatory complexity will be addressed through strong collaboration between research institutions and companies, including the development of demonstrations or flagship plants to assess real costs and benefits.