About the project

Redefining sustainable aquafeed through marine circularity.

Closing the Loop in Aquafeed Sustainability​

Global aquaculture depends heavily on fishmeal and plant-based ingredients such as soybean meal — both carrying environmental costs, including deforestation, resource depletion, and greenhouse gas emissions. Meanwhile, tons of macroalgal biomass generated by coastal industries remain underused or discarded. AlFunFeed bridges this gap by transforming macroalgal residues into fungal single-cell protein (SCP), creating a circular value chain that connects marine by-products with sustainable aquafeed production.
The project’s innovation lies in integrating biotechnology, nutrition, and environmental assessment to validate SCP as a functional, safe, and eco-efficient protein source for carnivorous fish species.

Five research objectives drive the AlFunFeed vision.

  • Develop and optimize fungal SCP from macroalgal waste using scalable fermentation processes.
  • Formulate SCP-based aquafeeds tailored to the nutritional needs of European seabass.
  • Evaluate fish performance, digestibility, immunity, and welfare through multidisciplinary validation.
  • Assess environmental and economic impacts via Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and cost analysis.
  • Disseminate and exploit project results to ensure industrial uptake and policy relevance.

The project follows a stepwise experimental and analytical workflow:

  • Bioconversion: macroalgal residues → fungal biomass (SCP).
  • Feed formulation: integrating SCP into balanced diets.
  • Feeding trials: testing growth, digestibility, microbiota, and welfare in European seabass.
  • Impact assessment: comparing SCP-based feeds to conventional formulations through LCA and cost analysis.
  • Communication & exploitation: translating scientific results into real-world applications and stakeholder engagement.

Expected Impacts

Environmental

  • Valorisation of marine by-products and waste reduction.
  • Decreased pressure on land and marine resources.
  • Lower carbon and nutrient footprints in aquafeed production.

Economic

  • Cost-effective and stable alternative protein source.
  • Strengthened competitiveness of European aquaculture.
  • Support for local circular bioeconomy value chains.

Social & Policy

  • Contribution to EU Green Deal, Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership, and One Health strategies.
  • Promotion of responsible resource use and stakeholder awareness.
  • Engagement with policymakers, researchers, and industry to foster adoption.
Work Packages >>
Meet the Partners >>

AlFunFeed transforms waste into value — advancing aquaculture sustainability through innovation, collaboration, and circular marine resources.