EFFOP at Accelerating the Mission

EFFOP participated in Accelerating the Mission: A Danish EU Presidency Conference for the restoration and sustainability of Europe’s ocean and waters, held in Nyborg on 23–24 September 2024. The conference marked an important step in the Horizon Europe Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters.” The event brought together representatives from Danish ministries, the European Commission, research institutions, and industry to align policies, exchange solutions, and advance the Mission’s strategic roadmap.

Our Contribution

EFFOP took part in workshops on how the Mission’s objectives can be translated into concrete solutions within different sectors. We underlined the urgent need to address the increasing pollution that threatens Europe’s seas and aquatic environments, while also ensuring a more responsible and efficient use of marine resources. The European marine ingredients sector already demonstrates how this can be achieved in practice: by fully utilising existing raw materials and transforming by-products from fisheries and aquaculture into high-value proteins and oils with a documented low carbon footprint.

Key Takeaways

Several clear messages emerged from the conference:

• Consistency in regulation is needed. Divergent interpretations of EU rules continue to create uncertainty for industries working with marine raw materials. Greater harmonisation is essential to unlock investment and foster innovation.

• Transferable models are available. Experience from Denmark shows that certification, traceability, and by-product valorisation can deliver industrial-scale circular solutions with measurable impact.

• The roadmap must be actionable. The strategic roadmap presented at the conference should not remain aspirational but serve as a concrete tool for Member States and sectors to implement real, measurable actions.

The Way Forward

For EFFOP, the conference highlighted the importance of active engagement in EU processes. The marine ingredients sector has a central role to play in ensuring that the Mission delivers tangible improvements for Europe’s aquatic environments, while also supporting a sustainable supply of proteins and oils for food and feed.

EFFOP will continue to contribute expertise in side-stream utilisation, certification, and sustainable value chains as the Mission roadmap is put into practice.