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Press release
Paris, 17 January 2011
Innovation instilled by marine life is essential
for tackling Europe’s major challenges
According to a new report instigated by the Marine Board-ESF (European
Science Foundation) and coordinated by Joël Querellou, researcher at
IFREMER, Europe could become the world leader in marine biotechnology
within 10 years. Marine biotechnology currently represents a world market of
€2.8 billion and could continue to grow by 12% per year if private industrial
and academic research partners collaborate.
Europe’s four seas and two oceans feature a wide variety of conditions of
temperature, pressure, light and chemistry, from shallow coastal waters to the deep
sea. Marine organisms have adapted to and thrive in these conditions, resulting in an
extraordinary level of marine biodiversity which is largely unexplored and
underexploited. Marine biotechnologists can develop new products and services from
these resources that can help address future challenges, such as the sustainable
supply of food and energy, new drugs and therapies and novel industrial materials and
processes.
“Marine biotechnology not only creates jobs and wealth, it can also contribute to the
development of greener, smarter economies,” said Lars Horn of the Research Council
of Norway and Chair of the Marine Board. “Japan, China and the United States are
already investing heavily in marine biotechnology. If we fail to act, Europe will lose
out.”
Biofuels are one example of how marine biotechnology can help deliver the Europe
2020 strategy: cultivating microalgae for fuel can reduce greenhouse gas emissions
by 20%. This technology is without a doubt the most promising way of harnessing the
ocean’s bioenergy, but requires more in-depth research to reduce costs and increase
production.
Europe’s waters also offer a potential source of drugs, biomaterials and industrial
products such as biopolymers. More than 13 marine-derived treatments are already in
the clinical phase of development and most target cancer. Marine biotechnology can
also play a role in improving the capacity of aquaculture and in meeting Europe's
growing demand for healthy, sustainable seafood. The Marine Board recently
published a position paper on the topic, entitled “Marine Biotechnology: A New Vision
and Strategy for Europe.”
This document provides the roadmap for European research in this field and sets out
an ambitious, but realistic science and policy programme for the coming decade
According to the Marine Board, if the right decisions are made now, Europe can be the
world leader in the field of marine biotechnology by 2020. The actions needed include:
- the development of new research strategies and programmes for marine
biotechnology, aligned on national, regional and European levels;
- the improvement of technology transfer to strengthen collaboration between
academic research and industry;
IFREMER Press Office: Marion Le Foll – Johanna Martin – +33 (0)1 46 48 22 42/40 – [email protected]
- securing fair and equitable access to marine genetic resources to support European
innovation in this growing area;
- Creation of stronger identity and communication to raise awareness of European
marine biotechnology research.
The Marine Board 2020 Vision for European Marine Biotechnology was presented to
Maive Rute, European Commission DG Research Director for Biotechnology,
Agriculture and Food during the recent EurOCEAN 2010 conference that was held in
Ostend, Belgium. She commented that “the recent developments in the field of marine
biotechnologies promise to be very important, for example, for applications in the
medical sector, by developing new drugs and diagnostic devices.”
The report is available on-line: www.esf.org/marineboard/publications
The ‘Microbiology of Extreme Environments Laboratory’ specialises in the study of
extremophiles
This laboratory, which federates IFREMER, the CNRS and the University of Western
Brittany, has a relatively unique research theme. By exploring and developing its own
means for cultivating and conserving microorganisms, it has amassed a collection of
microorganisms from extreme deep-sea environments, which are difficult to access.
Organisms living in extreme environments — especially micro-organisms — have
developed various strategies of adaptation over the course of evolution. As a result, they
have a wide range of original metabolic pathways and biomolecules that help them not
only to survive in extreme conditions, but also thrive in extreme ecological niches. The
study of extremophiles aims to understand the adaptive mechanisms that are employed as
well as to determine the properties of certain biomolecules, in particular enzymes that
have potential for DNA engineering.
For more information on the Marine Board, please contact Maud Evrard, Science Officer,
Marine Board-ESF: [email protected] Tel:+32 (0)59 34 01 54
For more information on scientific recommendations, please contact Joël Querellou, IFREMER:
[email protected] Tel +33 (0)2 98 22 46 86;Mobile +33 (0)659 922 110
The Marine Board provides to member organisations a pan-European platform to develop
common priorities and to advance marine research and marine sciences. IFREMER has been a
member of the Marine Board since 1995.
www.esf.org/marineboard
The European Science Foundation (ESF) is an independent non-governmental organization that
promotes collaboration in scientific research, funding of research and science policy across
Europe. www.esf.org
IFREMER Press Office: Marion Le Foll – Johanna Martin – +33 (0)1 46 48 22 42/40 – [email protected]