Articles and Projects

Frontiers Policy and Practice Reviews article

Catalyzing progress in the blue economy through joint marine microbiome research across the Atlantic.

International agreements recognize the importance of cooperative scientific research to conserve and promote sustainable development of a shared Atlantic Ocean. In 2022, the All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance Declaration was signed. The All-Atlantic Declaration continues and extends relationships forged by the Galway Statement on Atlantic Ocean Cooperation and the Belém Statement on Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Cooperation. These efforts are consistent with programs, actions, and aims of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. In preparation for implementation of the All-Atlantic Declaration, members of the Marine Microbiome Working Group and the Marine Biotechnology Initiative for the Atlantic under the Galway and Belém Statements respectively, joined forces to call for cooperation across the Atlantic to increase marine microbiome and biotechnology research to promote ocean health and a sustainable bioeconomy. This article reviews the goals of the marine microbiome and biotechnology initiatives under the Galway and Belém Statements and outlines an approach to implement those goals under the All-Atlantic Declaration through a Blue Biotech and Marine Microbiome (BBAMM) collaboration.

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mLife

Harnessing marine microbiomes to develop sistainable, all-Atlantic bioeconomy

 Marine microbiomes are integral to the functioning of a healthy ocean and have the potential to be key contributors toward an allAtlantic sustainable blue bioeconomy. New compounds may be developed based on these microbiomes. The Atlantic Ocean is a biodiversity hotspot. The AllAtlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance (AAORIA) Declaration, signed in 2022 in Washington, DC, is a promising mechanism to move forward marine microbiome science, technology, and innovation.

Trends in Biotechnology

Leveraging marine biotechnology for an All-Atlantic sustainable blue economy

Despite the lack of research, development, and innovation, especially in South Atlantic countries, the Atlantic is suited to supporting a sustainable marine bioeconomy.

Novel low-carbon mariculture systems can provide food security, new drugs, and climate mitigation. We suggest how to develop this sustainable marine bioeconomy across the entire Atlantic.

Programmes

World Microbiome Partnership

The World Microbiome Partnership is a newly formed international forum bringing together stakeholders across the larger microbiome field in academia, industry, foundations and government to promote key partnerships between these stakeholder communities and to harmonize development of microbiome-based biomarkers, products and interventions for human, plant, animal and ecosystem health. 

BlueBio Cofund

An ERA-net Cofund on the Blue Bioeconomy

The BlueBio is the result of a collaboration between JPI Oceans and the former ERA-NETS COFASP and ERA MBT and consists of 27 partners from 16 countries.
The main objective of the COFUND is to establish a coordinated R&D funding scheme that will strengthen Europe’s position in the blue bioeconomy.

AtlantECO

An EU-funded project

The EU-funded AtlantECO project aims to develop and apply a novel, unifying framework that provides knowledge-based resources for a better understanding and management of the Atlantic Ocean and its ecosystem services.

The project focuses on three pillars of research: microbiomes, plastic and the plastisphere, and seascape connectivity.

BIOTECHNOLOGIA MARINHA

Marinha do Brasil

A Rede Nacional de Pesquisa em Biotecnologia Marinha nasceu da união de competências e da enorme articulação entre grupos organizados de pesquisa que já haviam definido protocolos comuns de trabalho e interação de capacidades. Com base nessa premissa, estabeleceu laboratórios estratégicos temáticos visando o desenvolvimento de pesquisa que amplia as fronteiras da biotecnologia marinha. A Rede Nacional de Pesquisa em Biotecnologia Marinha desenvolve estudos pioneiros focados na solução de problemas que afetam a sociedade brasileira visando o desenvolvimento econômico e social, com responsabilidade ambiental. Parcerias estratégicas com empresas do Brasil e do exterior estão abrindo a possibilidade de desenvolvimento de produtos e processos, visando a produção de divisas para o nosso país, através da bioeconomia marinha. Esta iniciativa está prevista no IX Plano Setorial de Recursos do Mar da Comissão Interministerial para os Recursos do Mar (CIRM).

AANCHOR - AAORIA

The All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance (AAORIA) is the result of science diplomacy efforts involving countries from both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. It builds upon the success of two existing cooperative agreements – the Galway Statement on Atlantic Ocean Cooperation which was signed by the European Union, United States, and Canada in 2013; and the Belem Statement on Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Cooperation which was signed by the European Union, Brazil, and South Africa in 2017 as well as on several other bilateral and multilateral agreements. AAORIA aims to enhance marine research and innovation cooperation along and across the Atlantic Ocean. In 2022, the “All-Atlantic Declaration” was signed to revitalize collaboration among current initiatives and enhance the coordination between the Galway Working Groups, All-Atlantic Joint Pilot Actions, and related projects. Additionally, it aims to engage new partners and initiatives to join the All-Atlantic community.

NOAA 'Omics

Strategic Plan 2021-2025

‘Omics is one of the Science and Technology Focus Areas rolled out by NOAA
in 2020. NOAA’s ‘omics vision aims to integrate modern ‘omics technologies
across the agency, transforming its approach to biological investigation and
accelerating sustainable management of ecosystem resources for the benefit
of people, communities, and economies. The NOAA ‘Omics Strategy provides
a framework to maximize the value of ‘omics tools for agency research
and operations and accelerate the application of ‘omics to address mission
priorities.

Genome Canada

Explore Genome Canada’s 20-year success story and vision for the future.

Living systems are the foundation of our health, our environment, and our economy. Unsurprisingly, understanding these systems has been a human preoccupation for centuries. Today, we possess knowledge and tools that allow us to see the details of this living world like never before. At the most fundamental level—the level where we can read and interpret the operating code of life—is genomics.