May 17, 2021
19:49
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Europe wants to green the “blue economy” by putting the turbo on offshore wind, attacking marine emissions and boosting the production of algae.
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The European Commission wants to support the development of the seaweed production industry. In an initiative that it is preparing for next year, it intends to facilitate the authorization of algae as new foods that can be marketed in Europe, facilitate their access to the market, but also communicate to increase consumer acceptance of seaweed foods Europeans. It also wants to intensify research and innovation on foods made from algae.
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“Algae can relieve environmental pressures from agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries.”
The European Commission
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The reasons for this craze? “Algae can relieve environmental pressures from agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries” and are “a major opportunity for the development of the sustainable food sector”, notes the Commission in a policy brief. Not to mention the algae industry’s potential for producing non-fossil fuels, or the fact that producing algae can help regulate the levels of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in water.
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Go beyond “blue growth”
It is one of the elements of the “new approach to the blue economy”, presented Monday by the Commission. This plan devoted to the economy of the sea and the ocean also intends to boost sustainable forestry, or explore the potential of seafood cell cultures as new food alternatives. Beyond food, it targets all sectors related to the sea, from offshore wind to coastal tourism through maritime transport. Last year they represented 176 billion euros in added value and nearly 4.5 million direct jobs. Objective stated: “To move from ‘blue growth’ to a sustainable blue economy.”
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The Commission thus intends QUINTUPLER by 2030 the capacity of offshore wind turbines, which currently reaches 12 GW. For 2050, the goal is to increase to 300 GW. The European Green Deal already plans to reduce emissions from transport, including maritime transport by 90%: the first zero emission ships are expected to enter the market by 2030, and the Commission plans to “align” the taxation of marine fuels with its climate policy.
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To clean up water and shores – and in particular to tackle the 27,000 tonnes of plastics that enter European waters each year – the ban on the main single-use plastics should have an effect since it targets 70% of the waste found on the coastlines. The Commission is preparing to replicate the formula for halve sea floor waste by 2030 and restrict microplastics.
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