Development of a Regional Processing System to Enhance the Value of Fishery Products, Aquaculture Outputs, and Related By-Products by Università di Bologna

The initiative aims to create a regional processing system that enhances the value of local fishery and aquaculture products (especially neglected, alien, or unsold species) while promoting circular and sustainable practices across the entire supply chain. Due to seasonal fluctuations and climate-driven changes in the Adriatic, many high-quality species remain unsold during low-demand periods, often becoming waste despite their nutritional and commercial potential. The project seeks to transform this surplus into high-value semi-processed products such as frozen fillets, stabilized mince, dried products, or preserved items, supported by shared processing, packaging, and storage facilities developed with research centers and regional food-processing companies. Expected impacts include reducing waste, increasing income for fishers and farmers, optimizing harvesting and production volumes, and integrating the fish sector more closely with Emilia-Romagna’s advanced agri-food industry. Key obstacles (such as resistance to change among operators, insufficient processing infrastructure, coordination challenges across a diverse set of stakeholders, and the difficulty of creating market demand for new semi-processed products) will be addressed through training, financial incentives, cooperative models, shared logistics hubs, and communication campaigns targeting consumers and restaurants. A multidisciplinary partnership involving fishers, aquaculture producers, research institutions, equipment manufacturers, logistics operators, and public authorities will support the development of specialized transformation centers and help establish a stronger, more innovative, and sustainable regional fish value chain.