Press Release
22 October 2026
As Europe accelerates its transition toward sustainable, circular food systems, the IMPRESS project joined leading regulatory and industry experts at the NOVAFOODIES Final Conference. Hosted by the Centro Tecnológico de Acuicultura (CTAQUA) in El Puerto de Santa María, Spain, the meeting included a pivotal roundtable on October 21st aimed at securing long-term collaboration and market deployment for aquatic innovations beyond the lifetime of individual projects.
The collaborative roundtable, moderated by Maurizio Notarfonso of ENEA, brought together a diverse coalition of research, industry, and policy leaders, including Federico Morreale from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Joining them were sister initiatives Algovex innovation, INNOAQUA, PROTEIN4IMPACT, and IMPRESS. The comprehensive “Regulatory and innovative pathways for novel foods” session explored the critical challenges and regulatory pathways for novel foods, micro- and macroalgae, sustainable aquaculture, and alternative proteins, while heavily emphasizing the need for strong consumer acceptance.
The projects showcased their progress and potential venues for collaboration, including IMPRESS noting its own zero-waste, circular approach to aquatic food systems. By upcycling liquid and solid waste streams from traditional fish processing and utilizing low-trophic species like duckweed, IMPRESS has developed a robust portfolio of market-ready products, including vegan fish-like alternatives, biodegradable packaging, and novel bio-fertilizers.
Aligning perfectly with the regulatory and market challenges discussed at the roundtable, IMPRESS outlined four actionable pathways for ongoing cross-project and industry collaboration:
- Technology Transfer and Licensing through project industrial partners.
- Ecosystem and Data Sharing: sharing insights from consumer market research and Life Cycle Assessments to collectively advocate for better EU policy and public procurement.
- Joint Public Engagement: through co-hosting targeted educational initiatives, such as youth debriefings and hybrid sessions, alongside partner projects.
- Supply Chain Integration: directed at local fisheries, aquaculture farms, and established food co-packers to integrate into its regional processing cooperative networks, allowing them means of monetizing their processing byproducts.
While the NOVAFOODIES project officially ends this October, the connections forged at CTAQUA ensure that the conversations, ideas, and collaborative momentum will endure. By connecting our technologies and market insights with the expertise of sister projects and regulatory stakeholders, IMPRESS is fostering knowledge exchange and taking concrete steps towards shaping the future of sustainable food systems.
As the European blue bioeconomy continues to expand, the synergy between research, industry, and policy established at this event sets a powerful precedent. The IMPRESS project remains committed to driving these collaborations forward, ensuring that the innovations of today become the commercial realities of tomorrow.