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Every year, seafood processing generates large amounts of waste. In shrimp production, only about 40% of the biomass is edible, leaving millions of tons of shells as by-products. Yet these shells contain valuable compounds such as chitin, which can be converted into chitosan, a biopolymer widely used in food packaging industries, biomedical materials, and environmental applications.

Ever wondered what is hidden and left behind the fish filleting process? IMPRESS team in Teagasc is exploring the enormous wealth from the ocean's depths endowed with overlooked and untapped value.

Seaweed is a very versatile resource that can be used as and/or in food, feed, biochemicals, carbon sequestration, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. For example, alginate, a compound extracted from seaweed, is used as a thickening agent in toothpaste.

The Horizon Europe-funded IMPRESS project has concluded its 4th Annual Consortium Meeting, held on 14–15 April 2026 in Gdynia, Poland, marking a step toward real-world application.