This Communication highlights the potential of algae within the EU and outlines a cohesive strategy—featuring targeted measures—to scale up regenerative algae cultivation and production across the region, while fostering the development and integration of markets for both food and non-food algae-based products. The key objectives of this Communication are: (i) to unlock the potential of algae as a sustainable resource for food, feed, bio-based products, and energy, (ii) to promote regenerative algae cultivation throughout the EU to support environmental and economic goals, and (iii) to develop and mainstream the markets for food and non-food algae applications. This Communication sets out 23 actions for the purposes of improving the governance framework and legislation, improving the business environment, closing knowledge, research, technological and innovation gaps, and increasing social awareness and market acceptance of algae and algae-based products in the EU. This Communication explores the role of algae in advancing the blue carbon economy and highlights its capacity to support the EU’s goals in decarbonization, pollution reduction, circularity, biodiversity conservation and restoration, ecosystem protection, and the expansion of environmental services. It emphasizes that cultivating and processing algae and other emerging marine biomass resources can contribute to the sustainable production of food and feed, as well as pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, fertilizers, bio-based packaging, cosmetics, biofuels, and various other non-food products. Coherent and streamlined governance will be enabled for the algae sector throughout the EU in order to place on the market sustainably sourced and safe biomass algae-based products. New algae farmers’ toolkit will be developed for algae cultivation in the Member States, tailored to the cultivation conditions in different sea basins. The Member States will be encouraged to facilitate access to marine space, identify optimal sites for seaweed farming and include seaweed farming and sea multi-use in maritime spatial plans. The monitoring and quality framework will be strengthened by developing standard testing, quantification and extraction methods for algae ingredients and contaminants. Algae biofuel standards and a certification methodology for algae-biofuel products will be developed to be used in various transport sectors, particularly maritime transport. The market potential, efficiency and safety of algae-based materials will be assessed when used in fertilising products. The procedures as regards national licensing and governance for algae cultivation will be simplified. Market-stimulating mechanisms will be developed to support and promote the transfer of technology from research to algae market. Specific guidance will be given to promote replacing fish-based feed with algae-based feed. Valid and safe alternatives will be identified to the use of nutrients and CO2 from various sources for microalgae cultivation and organic certification. The life cycle assessment of the environmental and climate impact of algae cultivation and production will be promoted by considering the development of monitoring methodologies and indicators to measure the environmental impact and sustainability of seaweed cultivation. Targeted support will be enhanced for innovative SMEs and projects in the algae sector. The Commission will take actions for closing knowledge, research, technological and innovation gaps. Algae sector knowledge will be integrated into the EU aquaculture assistance mechanism. Studies will be conducted to deepen the knowledge of seaweed climate change mitigation opportunities and the role of seaweed as blue carbon sinks. The maximum levels for contaminants will be established and thus a new monitoring Recommendation will be adopted for algae species for which insufficient occurrence data for contaminants are available. New and improved algae processing systems and novel production methods for high-value compounds traditionally sourced from algae will be developed. Better and scalable algae cultivation systems will be developed for dealing with the current technical constraints of macroalgae and microalgae production systems. Algae biofuel-specific technological and systemic challenges will be addressed and market take-up measures will be identified in the context of Horizon Europe. The awareness of EU consumers and citizens will be raised on the benefits of algae cultivation and algae-based products, ranging from regenerating marine ecosystems to creating low-carbon products and generating blue economy jobs. The sustainability profile of algae-based products will be raised in the EU sustainable food labelling framework, including in marketing standards for fisheries and aquaculture products and green public procurement initiatives envisaged as part of the Farm to Fork Strategy. Furthermore, the Commission will promote awareness-raising actions for schools and universities on the blue bioeconomy and innovative solutions for regenerative aquaculture.
2022-11-15