From Sea to Society (FStS)

Transition to an efficient, intensive Low Trophic Aquaculture system with combined seaweed and mussel cultivation, producing functional protein for human consumption.

There is urgent need for an alternative, sustainable, efficient protein production chain. We will initiate a marine, efficient, sustainable low trophic aquaculture (LTA) chain, based on biomass from combined seaweed-mussel cultivation. Social innovation and creation of value along the protein production chain form the key goals of the project. They are supported by breakthroughs in the natural sciences, such as selective breeding of sterile seaweeds, innovative biorefinery of seaweed biomass and insight in the carrying capacity of the natural marine ecosystem. The knowledge and skills gained will be integrated in the FS2S learning community, that will ensure the LTA continuity.

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Scientific abstract

The “From Sea to Society” (FS2S) research addresses the urgent need for alternative protein production chains by focusing on the transition to efficient, intensive, marine low trophic aquaculture (LTA) with combined seaweed and mussel cultivation, producing high quality protein for human consumption. This transition can only have impact when it is supported by advances in both social and natural sciences. Hence, the necessary social innovation and value creation along the production chain will be investigated and stimulated. Seaweed breeding and biorefinery will be innovated and insight in the carrying capacity of the marine ecosystem will be obtained. An efficient and intensive LTA can only be created when stakeholder expertise and infrastructure is combined with proper interdisciplinary research and a dedicated learning community. Once established, a successful LTA will produce high quality and healthy proteins which are attractive to consumers, thereby creating a market pull, resulting in profit for companies, while being in harmony with the marine ecosystem. The established learning community will moreover safeguard the continuation of the LTA after the FS2S project has ended.