ABOUT AIMBio
- AIMBio will optimise and scale up selected processes encompassing the cultivation and bio-conversion of macroalgae to develop high value food and feed ingredients, as well as the valorisation of fish by-catches, fish by-products and shellfish waste to produce valuable bio-based products.
- The macroalgae value chain will begin with the production of the four species of macroalgae at three sites, followed by their on-site preservation of macroalgae. Subsequently the stabilised macroalgae biomasses will undergo conversion through use of advanced technologies for producing a wide of array of food products, food and feed ingredients, and high value bioactive compounds.
- Seafood side-streams including fish by-catches (e.g. blue whiting), fish by-products will be utilised to produce fish meal, and fish protein concentrates, hydrolysates, lipids, through use of innovative cooking process, and innovative pre-treatment technologies. Crustacean shells will be converted into chitosans along with whole shell valorisation for biomaterials including calcium and collagen.
- End of life biomass will be demonstrated for both macroalgae and seafood wastes through anaerobic digestion.
- Optimised processes will be scaled up and an integrated biorefinery will be set up for processing into high value ingredients and products at demonstration facility at Teagasc.
- AIMBIO will assess system optimisation opportunities to increase resource use efficiency, considering feedstock supply, storage, logistics, and (pre)processing from the perspectives of the primary/farming sector, (pre)processing sector, and an integrated full-chain circular perspective.
AIMBio HAS 5
Key Aims
Demonstrate innovative bio-refineries
Improve efficiency & Economy
Scale up emerging technologies
foster industrial symbiosis & sustainability
Implement Circular Business models
WHO IS THE
PROJECT FOR
WHERE IS THE PROJECT TAKING PLACE
Across the island of Ireland
- Bantry Bay, Burtonport, and Rathlin Island (3 demonstration sites) for seaweed cultivation
- Donegal, Bantry, and Wexford – processing waste and by-catch collection from our industry sponsors including Sofrimar, Keohane of Bantry, Nutramara, Donegal Aquaculture Services Ltd.
- Teagasc Ashtown Food Research Centre (Dublin) –integrated biorefinery demonstration site and advanced processing of macroalgae
- AFBI (Northern Ireland) – seafood waste valorisation and seasonal analysis
- TCD (Dublin) – membrane processing & bio-packaging development
- ATU (Galway) – circular business modelling and logistics optimisation
- TUS (Limerick / Athlone) – anaerobic digestion, pyrolysis, lime-char & fertiliser formulation
Island-wide outreach, engagement, and testing workshops across rural and coastal regions of both Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland
FOR ENQUIRIES
Please contact us