BIOBASED connects aquaculture producers with Adriatic blue biorefinery opportunities
07/07/2026
How can innovation become a real opportunity for aquaculture producers?
This was the key question behind the BIOBASED Living Lab organised by the Mediterranean Aquaculture Association – AMA on 6 July 2026 in Cattolica, Italy.
The day started at sea, with a visit to the IMTA demo site by boat in the Cattolica-Adriatic Sea area. This field activity allowed project partners to observe directly how Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture systems can be tested in real production contexts, bringing research closer to the everyday work of aquaculture operators.
In the afternoon, the Living Lab continued at the Casa del Pescatore, where the public session opened the discussion with local stakeholders, producers and sector representatives. The event was designed as a space for exchange, where scientific results and operational experience could meet and generate concrete reflections on the future of sustainable aquaculture.
The open discussion and Q&A session allowed participants to share needs, expectations and recommendations, helping the partnership better understand how project results can be transferred to the aquaculture value chain.
As a business support organisation with strong experience in shellfish farming and integrated mariculture, AMA acts as a bridge between research and producers, supporting the transfer of scientific knowledge into production practice and contributing to the capitalisation of project results.
Through this Living Lab, BIOBASED confirmed one of its central messages: the transition towards a more sustainable blue economy depends not only on research, but also on the active involvement of those who work in the sector every day.
By connecting IMTA experimentation, macroalgae cultivation and blue biorefinery pathways with the needs of aquaculture operators, the Cattolica Living Lab contributed to building a shared vision for new sustainable opportunities in the Adriatic Sea.
