B2E – Blue Bioeconomy CoLAB participated in the 18-month meeting of the European InnoEcoFood project, which took place between July 1 and 3, 2025, in Kenya. This ambitious project, funded by the Horizon Europe program, aims to transform food value chains by creating sustainable EcoHubs based on aquaculture and insect production.

Represented by Ana Rita Ribeiro (Innovation and Project Manager) and Patrícia Gonçalves (Communication and Marketing Manager), B2E CoLAB actively contributed to the strategic discussions, with a special focus on the working group centered on training, communication, and dissemination.

INNOECOFOOD: a project with global impact

With 21 partners from 11 countries in Europe and Africa, InnoEcoFood’s mission is to tackle global challenges such as hunger, poverty, and climate change. The project takes a holistic approach to food production, promoting ecological practices, innovative technologies, and the empowerment of local communities.

EcoHubs—sustainable agro-industrial centers—are being implemented in six African countries (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ghana, Namibia, and Egypt), functioning as living laboratories where innovative solutions for fish, spirulina, and insect production, as well as post-harvest technologies and sustainable food, are tested and applied.

The role of B2E CoLAB

B2E CoLAB is involved in creating educational content and communication strategies that will empower 120 women, 120 young people, and future Eco-Hub workers. The goal is to ensure that the knowledge generated within the project is accessible, relevant, and replicable, promoting the autonomy and sustainable development of local communities.

During the meeting in Kenya, all members of the consortium had the opportunity to visit one of the EcoHubs under construction in Kisumu, witnessing firsthand the transformative impact of the project on the ground.

Portugal in the spotlight

In addition to B2E CoLAB, Portugal is represented in the consortium by CIIMAR – Interdisciplinary Center for Marine and Environmental Research at the University of Porto, which leads the project, and by the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Lisbon.

This meeting was a valuable opportunity to strengthen synergies, align strategies, and consolidate the commitment of all partners to a fairer, more sustainable, and innovative food future.