Sustainable fisheries and aquaculture face increasing challenges, making innovation essential for a secure global food system. Clusaga‘s ‘Products and Business Stakeholders Report’, developed within the IMPRESS project, provides an overview of low-trophic species (LTS) that can contribute to this transformation. The report highlights the potential of LTS from marine and freshwater ecosystems and offers valuable insights into how these species can be utilised to create sustainable food sources and value chains.
The purpose of the report
The purpose of the ‘Products and Business Stakeholders Report’ from Clusaga is to map existing LTS-based products and identify key business and research stakeholders within the LTS sector. This catalogue is a critical component of the IMPRESS project, serving as a guide for future activities. It documents the current market situation, helps develop new or improved products based on market insights and stakeholder information, and outlines their respective placement plans. Low-trophic-species, which include organisms found at the lower levels of the aquatic food chain, such as microalgae, macroalgae, duckweed, sprat, bream, and other freshwater and marine species, are key to building a more sustainable food system. They require fewer resources to grow and have a minimal environmental impact compared to traditional fisheries. LTS have diverse applications, including food products, biofertilizers, biopackaging, and animal feed, and their sustainable potential supports a circular bioeconomy, reducing dependence on resource-intensive alternatives.
Key insights from the report
Market potential of LTS-based products: The growing consumer demand for sustainable, nutritionally rich, and healthy food products has created a promising market for LTS-based products. These products, including food ingredients, dietary supplements, and animal feed, offer substantial economic opportunities for both small and large players in the market. As interest in sustainable options increases, the LTS sector is positioned for significant growth and innovation.
Environmental sustainability: Low-trophic-species have a minimal environmental footprint, offering renewable raw materials that support sustainable food production and consumption.
Stakeholder collaboration is key: The report emphasises that the success of the LTS sector depends on the collaboration between businesses and research institutions. Businesses are essential for scaling production and ensuring that LTS products are widely available in the market, while research entities drive technological advancements and provide valuable scientific insights that will improve production methods.
The challenges the LTS sector faces: Despite the potential of LTS, the sector faces several challenges, including scalability, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance. Overcoming these hurdles will require ongoing research, technological advancements, and strong partnerships between stakeholders. As the sector grows, it will be crucial to address these challenges through collaborative efforts and strategic innovations.
Expanding production and consumption: While the production and consumption of LTS have generally declined in recent years, algae aquaculture in the EU has experienced significant growth, demonstrating the potential for future expansion. As awareness of the environmental and nutritional benefits of LTS continues to rise, their role in the food system is set to grow significantly.
The ‘Products and Business Stakeholders Report’, prepared by Clusaga for the IMPRESS project, outlines the promising future of low-trophic species and their potential to revolutionise sustainable food production. With their minimal environmental impact, versatility, and growing market interest, LTS are positioned to play a key role in shaping the future of the food and aquaculture industries.
The IMPRESS project will leverage the insights from this report to help develop the foundations that will drive sustainability, economic growth, and environmental responsibility in the seafood and aquaculture industries. Additionally, its results highlight the importance of LTS as a central element of the circular bioeconomy while offering sustainable solutions to some of the most pressing challenges in global food production.
The article was written by reframe.food.
All photographs in this article are sourced from Freepik.
