Marine biotechnology is recognised as being central in delivering on the potential of the oceans to contribute to the sustainable delivery of food, energy and biomaterials, as well as to improvements in environmental and human health. Scientists, policy makers and industry representatives have contributed to the development of this vision for marine biotechnology. Links to recent events and documents highlighting the relevance of marine biotechnology are given below.
Marine Board-ESF Position paper on Marine Biotechnology, 2010 (pdf 1.5MB)
This paper calls for the development of a European marine biotechnology strategy. In doing so, it highlights the potential of marine biotechnology to impact Europe’s economy and stresses the importance of including marine biotechnology topics in future Framework Programmes.
EU KBBE-net “Coordinated Working Group on Marine Biotechnology (CWG-MB)”, 2009 (pdf 435kb)
In this marine biotechnology scoping paper, EU member states identified marine research priorities to contribute to the structure of EU Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development.
The EC-US Task Force on Biotechnology Research - Workshop - Principality of Monaco, 2008
Microbes play an important role in the marine and indeed global ecosystem. The importance of developing marine genomics expertise, including the need for research to strengthen Europe’s bioinformatics research capability was the focus of this Task Force meeting.
EU- European Strategy for Marine and Maritime Research, 2008
This strategy highlights the need for marine biodiversity and biotechnology research and recognises their potential to contribute new knowledge for high value added products and processes.
EC background paper No. 10 on Marine Biotechnology, 2006 (pdf 63kb)
This paper recognised the commercial potential of marine biotechnology research in the development of different industry sectors, such as agriculture, health, food products, process engineering, environment and energy. It identified a range of commercial applications that marine biotechnology would support, including: biodiscovery; improving the production of marine organisms; novel products - both food and feedstock; and uses in diagnostics and biosensor applications.
The Bremen Marine Biotechnology Meeting, 2006 (pdf106kb)
Led by the European Commission and attended by representatives from industry and Europe’s marine biotechnology research community, this meeting highlighted the importance of the EU Framework Programme in supporting marine biotechnology research and called for the development of a European marine biotechnology research strategy.
The CIRCA Report on Marine Biotechnology 2005 (pdf 525kb)
This MI funded study provides an overview of marine biotechnology and makes recommendations about how Ireland could develop capabilities in marine biotechnology.