Blue Biotechnology: Challenges and Opportunities in a Sector with the Capacity to Address Major Global Challenges

Blue biotechnology refers to the use of resources and organisms from the marine environment with the aim of developing products and solutions in various fields, such as food production, energy, medicine, aquaculture, bioremediation, and the chemical industry. Blue biotechnology has great potential to contribute to sustainable development, as well as to address global challenges such as food security and climate change mitigation, among others.

Blue biotechnology is positioned as one of the emerging sectors within the so-called Blue Economy, a key element for the European Commission to achieve goals such as those outlined in the European Green Deal. Despite the significant advances made in recent years, the marine environment remains largely unknown, characterized by its complexity and heavily impacted by pollution.

Biotechnology enables the use and development of clean and low-carbon technologies, as well as opportunities in data and analysis; solutions for water and marine plastic pollution, techniques for monitoring marine habitats, and increasing resilience to the effects of climate change. Algae, bacteria, fungi, and invertebrates are among the marine resources used as raw materials in blue bioeconomy and biotechnology. On the occasion of World Water Day celebrated on March 22nd, we analyze the significant work that some of the biotechnology companies affiliated with AseBio are doing in the field of blue biotechnology.

"Blue biotechnology allows for the exploration and discovery of new bioactive compounds that can be used in a variety of applications. Furthermore, blue biotechnology can help mitigate the effects of climate change by developing solutions for carbon capture and storage, as well as for the production of biofuels and renewable materials, in addition to offering tools for water pollutant bioremediation and aquatic ecosystem restoration, all driven by the significant advances being made in molecular biology, genomics, bioinformatics, including genetic engineering of aquatic organisms to improve their growth and capacity to produce industrially relevant compounds," explains Joaquín Pozo Dengra, R&D Director of Biorizon Biotech.

"The production of algae, in particular, requires multidisciplinary collaboration among scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and local communities. Multidisciplinary efforts are needed to address the technical, economic, social, and environmental challenges associated with large-scale algae cultivation," says Juan Luis Gómez Pinchetti, Scientific Director & Head of the Biotechnology Unit at the Spanish Algae Bank. He emphasizes that, in this regard, "it is essential to adopt sustainable resource management approaches to ensure that algae cultivation is carried out responsibly and environmentally respectfully. This includes the protection of sensitive marine ecosystems, the mitigation of negative environmental impacts, and the promotion of sustainable cultivation practices," as stated by the Spanish Algae Bank.

Microalgae biotechnology is part of blue biotechnology. From these, "different types of naturally derived products with bio-stimulating, bio-fertilizing activity can be obtained, as well as extracts with activity against pests and diseases. This type of agricultural bioproducts, originating from microalgae, contribute to the reduction of mineral fertilizer and synthetic chemical pesticide use, thus directly contributing to the improvement of the sustainability of agricultural practices," continue from Biorizon Biotech. On the other hand, the Spanish Algae Bank also focuses on biomass production and transformation and the generation of microalgae bioactives, which allows for the establishment of a new agro-industrial ecosystem with significant benefits related to environmental sustainability.

Advancing in the applications of blue biotechnology, we find PharmaMar. This biotechnological company explores and researches the vast and almost unknown marine ecosystem with the aim of finding compounds with properties to develop therapies that can address diseases such as cancer. "Our history dates back to 1986 when we were pioneers in this area, founding our company with the purpose of seeking solutions for diseases such as cancer in marine invertebrates. In fact, we managed to be the first company in the world to obtain approval for a marine-derived anticancer drug."

"The sea is our therapeutic platform," they share as the basis of their research process that begins with marine expeditions aimed at collecting marine invertebrates worldwide "always subject to the current legislation of each country and international treaties, such as the Nagoya Protocol." A meticulous work that has resulted in the largest collection of marine organism samples with over 400,000 specimens stored in their facilities.

In the case of Biomar MT, this company explores the microbiological biodiversity of marine ecosystems, generating collections of bacteria, fungi, and microalgae from which extracts with diverse biological activities are obtained. Marian Vinuesa Navarro, head of the Mycology Department, identifies two significant challenges facing blue biotechnology in the current scenario.

On one hand, she points out those related to the use of marine resources. "The technical and engineering challenge of accessing unexplored niches with still unknown biodiversity, especially in deep-sea areas, and pressure, underwater volcanoes, etc., makes it difficult to delve into the discovery of the incalculable biological wealth of the oceans. When technically feasible, we will face another challenge, as we will have access to samples whose microbial diversity will be difficult to extract, as they come from complex habitats to replicate," she argues, focusing on the importance of metagenomic analysis in assessing biodiversity.

"On the other hand, natural products derived from marine microorganisms, such as pesticides, must overcome the challenge of matching the efficacy of synthetic products. However, their biodegradability and lower environmental impact are driving their use," add from Biomar MT. Regarding the challenges arising from the maintenance and conservation of the marine environment, Vinuesa concludes: "The main challenge is to prevent the increasing pollution of waters, especially with plastics, micro, and nano-plastics, which are already ubiquitous in waters and aquatic organisms. The magnitude of this problem is enormous and requires urgent solutions. The first step is to stop pollution."