Community of Practice Workshop Algae production in Europe: status, challenges and future developments

This workshop will bring together relevant specialists from the Commission services and experts from the algae industry to discuss the following topics: Availability and quality of information on the algae production in Europe; The regulatory framework related to algae production and commercial applications with a particular focus on food but also non-food algae uses; The constraints, needs and opportunities for the sustainable development of the sector.

27 February 2019

Venue: Joint Research Centre
CDMA -1/SDR1 & -1/SDR/2

Rue du Champs de Mars 21
1050 Brussels, Belgium

Programme

Background:

In the context of the European Union’s updated Bioeconomy and Blue Growth Strategies, algae biomass is becoming increasingly important as a resource for a variety of commercial applications (e.g. food, feed, cosmetics, nutraceuticals, fertiliser and bio-based products). At the same time algal communities are important components of marine ecosystems and providers of ecosystem services to coastal communities. Key aspects like ensuring the sustainable exploitation of these resources while supporting the marine economic activities, creating jobs, searching for alternative food and energy sources and protecting the environment should be addressed.

In spite of the growing interest on algae resources, production in Europe lags behind the marked increase in algae biomass production at the global level (driven by the Asian algae aquaculture) and suffers from scarce and fragmented information on the sector. Furthermore the existing regulatory framework for this emerging sector might need to be optimised to safety requirements and market developments. The constraints, needs and opportunities to support the sector development need to be identified.

Purpose of the workshop:

This workshop will bring together relevant specialists from the Commission services and experts from the algae industry to discuss the following topics:

Availability and quality of information on the algae production in Europe;
The regulatory framework related to algae production and commercial applications with a particular focus on food but also non-food algae uses;
The constraints, needs and opportunities for the sustainable development of the sector.

The conclusions of this workshop on the current status, constraints, needs and opportunities related to the algae sector will be summarised in a brief report.

Agenda

08:30 - 08:50 Welcome (Elisabetta Balzi – Head of JRC Bioeconomy Unit)

Presentation of the workshop objectives and structure (Rita Araujo - JRC)

SESSION 1: Availability and quality of information on the algae industry in Europe and needs for policy

Chair: Javier Sanchez Lopez (EC’s Knowledge Centre for Bioeconomy)

08:50 – 09:30 Setting the scene: Presentations by experts from the DG MARE, JRC, EMODnet and EABA:

Policy needs for information on algae production (Iain Shepherd: DG MARE)
Knowledge on algae production in Europe: progress and existing gaps (Rita Araujo: JRC)
Recent initiatives: algae production portal and EUMOFA report (Alessandro Pititto: EMODnet Human Activities)
EABA activities (Jean-Paul Cadoret: EABA)

09:30 – 11:00 Breakout group discussion (rotatory) with the experts from industry

Group 1.a: Information on production of biomass (moderator: Alessandro Pititto: EMODnet Human Activities)
Group 1.b Current markets (moderator: Zoi Konstantinou: DG MARE)
Group 1.c: Future markets (moderator: Iain Shepherd: DG MARE)

11:00 – 11:15 Coffee Break

11:15 - 11:30 Presentation of results from group discussion by the moderator in each group and plenary discussion

SESSION 2: Regulatory framework related to algae production and commercial applications

Chair: Rita Araujo (JRC)

11:30 - 12:00 Setting the scene: Presentations by experts from DG MARE, DG SANTE, DG GROW and CEN

Regulatory framework related to algae production (Valentina Mabilia: DG MARE)
Novel food and food regulation (Takis Daskaleros: DG SANTE)
Cosmetics and chemicals (Theodora Nikolakopoulou: DG GROW & Silvio Mangini: CEN WG5)

12:00 – 13:00 Breakout group discussion (rotatory) with the experts from industry

Group 2.a: Legislation on production of algae biomass (moderator: Valentina Mabilia: DG MARE)
Group 2.b: Legislation on novel food (moderator: Takis Daskaleros: DG SANTE)
Group 2.c: Legislation on other uses (e.g. pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, energy, etc.) (moderator: Jean-Paul Cadoret: EABA)

13:00 – 13:45 Lunch Buffet

SESSION 2 (continuation)

13:45 – 14:15 Breakout group discussion with the experts from industry (cont.)

14:15 - 14:30 Presentation of results from group discussion by the moderator in each group and plenary discussion

SESSION 3: Constraints, needs and opportunities for the sector development

Chair: Maris Stulgis (DG MARE)

14:30 – 15:10 Setting the scene: Presentations by experts from EASME, Blue Bioeconomy Forum, DG ENER, CEN/TC454 and DG RTD

EASME/EMFF current initiatives and future opportunities (Charlotte Jagot: EASME)
The Blue Economy Forum (Andreas Ligtvoet: Blue Bioeconomy Forum)
H2020 tender on Support for market development of algae and their products (Arne Eriksson: DG ENER)
The European Committee for Standardization on algae and algae products (Bert van Asselt: CEN/TC454)
Initiatives to boost the algae sector in the framework of RTD activities and the new bioeconomy strategy (Vilma Radvilaite: DG RTD)

15:10 – 15:30 Coffee Break

15:30 – 16:45 Breakout group discussion (rotatory) with the experts from industry

Group 3.a: R&D projects (moderator: Sarah Mubareka: JRC)
Group 3.b: Other initiatives (moderator: Matteo Prussi: JRC)

16:45 - 17:00 Presentation of results from group discussion by the moderator in each group and plenary discussion

17:00 – 17:30 Closure of meeting (Rita Araujo-JRC)

Maritime Forum Themes

Community of Practice Workshop Algae production in Europe: status, challenges and future developments