Among the initiatives featured in the e-book is the Inovacel Project, which has achieved a success rate of 85-90 percent in replacing the costly and ethically sensitive foetal bovine serum (FBS) – a crucial element for cell cultivation in the production of lab-grown meat and fish. By developing an innovative and sustainable substitute using microalgae, the scientific community involved in this consortium is pioneering a new era for cellular agriculture.

This strategic vision for the sea is made possible through crucial support from European Funds. According to José Apolinário, President of the ALGARVE 2030 Managing Authority, these investments are vital because “in the blue economy, the knowledge generated in the Algarve, supported by European Funds, is not only solving regional challenges but also placing us at the forefront of tomorrow’s solutions for pharmacology and global food production”.

“We aim to establish the region as a leading territory in the blue economy, while also reinforcing cross-border cooperation within the Euroregion Algarve-Alentejo-Andalusia”, he added, highlighting the supported projects that include blue biotechnology and the strengthening of the maritime industrial base.

This recently published e-book demonstrates the diversity of innovation supported, from environmental solutions to industrial development:

  • Softcrab Project – aims to transform the problematic blue crab, an invasive species in the Ria Formosa originally from the American coast, into a valuable soft-shell gastronomic delicacy, turning an environmental challenge into a new source of commercial value.
  • Investment in Sustainable Aquaculture, supporting science-based companies such as Sea4US, which develops innovative pharmaceuticals inspired by marine organisms.
  • Nautiber and Sopromar, companies driving the advancement of the naval industry, exploring dual-use technological solutions, innovation in shipbuilding and maintenance, and the creation of new sea-related value chains.
  • IPMA – Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere, whose research and experimental infrastructures in the Algarve are national pillars of ecological monitoring, marine biotechnology, and the development of new aquaculture species.
  • S2AQUAcoLAB, a national collaborative laboratory recognised for technology transfer in the aquaculture sector and the development of more sustainable food and biotechnological solutions.
  • Algarve Marine Observatory (OMA) – bridging science and business, supporting sectors such as tourism and hospitality in adopting more sustainable practices aligned with ESG principles.

Ramón Fernández-Pacheco Monterreal, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development of the Government of Andalusia, a partner within the Euroregion, emphasised that the blue economy “will undoubtedly move forward in unison with the efforts of other Spanish regions and with those of Portugal’s Algarve, with whom we share objectives, economic ties, and a lasting friendship”.

Paulo Águas, Rector of the University of the Algarve, noted that “UAlg’s positioning today is inseparable from the affirmation of the blue economy, a concept that embodies the sustainable enhancement of the ocean as a driver of economic growth, productive innovation, and the creation of skilled employment”.

The digital version of the publication is available on the ALGARVE 2030 Regional Programme website at: https://algarve.portugal2030.pt/documentos/