According to the United Nations, global consumption of natural resources is expected to increase by 60% by 2060 compared to 2020 levels. This consumption will exert unprecedented pressure on the environment, exacerbating climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss, especially if traditional extraction methods are used. Therefore, the development of innovative next-generation solutions and the sustainable exploitation of renewable natural resources have become more important than ever. The concept of biorefineries is emerging as a promising response to this global challenge.

What is a Biorefinery? It is an integrated facility that uses sustainable, cascading processing technology to convert whole or fractionated biomass into multiple marketable bioproducts and bioenergy. The goal is to optimize resource use and minimize waste, with the cascading product flow starting with the highest-value products and ending with the production of biofuels and energy options that destroy biomass.

In the biorefinery concept, marine biomass remains underutilized. Various biomasses can be used in marine biorefineries, namely algae (macro or micro), by-catches from fishing, or by-products of fish processing (e.g., heads, tails, or skin).

Several products can result from a marine biorefinery. Algae, for example, are ideal for obtaining biofuels, lipids (e.g., omega-3), pigments (e.g., carotenoids), proteins, or bioplastics (e.g., polylactic acid). While fish biomass can be transformed into biofuels, proteins (e.g., collagen), enzymes (e.g., proteases), fish oils (e.g., squalene), polysaccharides (e.g., chitin), or mineral-based compounds (e.g., hydroxyapatite).

But despite their potential, marine biorefineries are still in their infancy, with most only in the conceptual phase. The main challenges are the high production costs, scalability issues, and the complexity of marine biomass processing.

How can emerging technologies unlock the full potential of marine biorefineries? Artificial intelligence, digital twins, and machine learning can be important tools for optimizing bioprocessing operations, predicting outcomes, and improving yields. Robotics and automation can simplify the harvesting and processing of marine biomass. Advanced bioprocessing technologies, such as fermentation, enzymatic processes, or nanotechnology, can improve the efficiency of biomass conversion and the extraction of high-value bioproducts. Finally, advances in synthetic biology may allow the genetic engineering of marine organisms for specific applications. The integration of some of these technologies into the biorefinery concept is still limited. But as they evolve, they will certainly play a crucial role in the development of efficient, scalable, and sustainable Marine Biorefineries, contributing to a greener and more resilient future.

At B2E CoLAB, we are strongly committed to driving the principles of the circular blue bioeconomy. An example of this is the FishMatter project, which we lead within the framework of the Blue Bioeconomy Pact (funded by the PRR), which aims to develop a smart platform for the valorization of marine co-products. We believe that this platform will be an important contribution to knowledge in the field of marine biomass and a facilitator for the conceptualization of Marine Biorefineries, which will pave the way for the holistic development of a circular blue bioeconomy in Portugal.