INvertebrateIT project supports initiative to invest in the production of insects as part of aquaculture diversification

The Marine Institute is delighted to be working with seven partners from five European countries on an innovative project – InvertebrateIT to develop new approaches for the aquaculture sector in Ireland, and across the EU Atlantic Basin.

The project is supporting new initiatives including the production of insects for sustainable fish feeds, as well as competitive aquaculture and integrated waste management.

The project partners are bringing closer together different sub-sectors to produce valuable animal proteins such as insects and marine invertebrates. INvertebrateIT are also looking at advising the proper valorisation of unused resources and, the publication of society- and policy-facing infographics on the topic.

"Recently the consortium invested in three projects including IPATAC, EntoGreen and MUSFLOUR where over the next twelve months, we will work with the selected projects, providing them with focused resources. The benefits of insects used in aquaculture feed provides a more cost effective, sustainable solution to replace the use of fish protein. It will also benefit the circular economy by utilising waste as the substrate for insect growth," explained Pauline O'Donohoe, Marine Institute.

While the original objective was to boost the investment readiness level of the winning projects to pre-commercial level, the quality and status of the three chosen projects were more advanced than expected, with one already launched to market.

The consortium has already planned how to address this challenge and has developed a revised strategy to ensure that the correct support is provided and that INvertebrateIT exceeds expectations.

Luis Lozano from Innogate-to-Europe and the project co-manager congratulated those involved with the INvertebrateIT project saying, "We are one year in and our progress has been good. Working in a disruptive sector, our consortium has brought together a colourful collection of individuals that you often don't find in a European project. This includes industry clusters from maritime aquaculture sectors; aquaculture farmers and insect breeders; visionary entrepreneurs; veterinarians; public administrators; science communicators; and innovation specialists. It's exciting seeing so many people come together with different backgrounds and ideas to explore this new niche market".

INvertebrateIT is open to supporting new innovative initiatives on the issues, in the framework of providing information on different funding tools identified at both European, national and regional levels of the partner countries.

For more information on INvertebrateIT and the three winning projects, please visit: www.invertebrateitproject.eu

The INvertebrateIT project is coordinated by Innogate-to-Europe, a Madrid-based SME (www.innogatetoeurope.eu). This project has received funding from the European Union EASME's European Maritime and Fisheries Fund under Grant Agreement no. EASME/EMFF/2016/1.2.1.3/02/SI2.751532 (INvertebrateIT).

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Further information about the INvertebrateIT project is available on its website: www.invertebrateitproject.eu. If you would like to know more about the INvertebrateIT project or would like to receive regular updates on its progress, please contact its Project Managers, Luis Lozano and Paloma Lozano (E-mail: llg@innogatetoeurope.eu and mailto:plg@innogatetoeruope.eu Telephone: +33 620 96.49.91).