Giovanna Romano, Senior Researcher at the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn in Naples, Italy, tells us about the BIOVAL project, which aims to optimise microalgae cultivation to produce beneficial compounds for human health and aquaculture. The first goal is to extract a natural oil rich in bioactive molecules similar to those in fish oil, but sourced directly from microalgae rather than from fish stocks.

The remaining biomass, rich in protein and carbohydrates, is then used to improve fish feed for more efficient aquaculture, and what is left can serve as biofertiliser in agriculture. The result is a zero-waste model that turns one biomass into multiple things: food supplements, feed, and fertiliser.

Watch the episode below: