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Haben Sie schon einmal darüber nachgedacht, dass Meeresalgen eine Lösung für die weltweite Plastikverschmutzungskrise bieten könnten? Die Verwendung von Einweg-Verpackungsmaterialien hat in den letzten Jahrzehnten parallel zu den zunehmenden Trends in Sachen Convenience und Fast-Food dramatisch zugenommen. Die meisten dieser Verpackungsmaterialien bestehen aus biologisch nicht abbaubaren, erdölbasierten Polymeren, die sich negativ auf die Umwelt auswirken und zur globalen Plastikverschmutzungskrise beitragen. Die Plastikverschmutzung in den Ozeanen zerstört die Ökosysteme und bedroht in der Folge unsere eigene Gesundheit, die Lebensmittelsicherheit und den Küstentourismus. Die Suche nach alternativen Verpackungsmaterialien ist ein wichtiger Schritt zum Aufbau einer biobasierten Kreislaufwirtschaft und zum Erreichen unserer Nachhaltigkeitsziele. Unsere Ozeane könnten eine Lösung in Form von Makroalgen bieten. Das Mak-Pak Scale-Up Projekt konzentriert sich auf die Skalierung und Optimierung der Produktion von Meeresalgen, um nachhaltiges, biologisch abbaubares und/oder essbares Verpackungsmaterial auf Makroalgenbasis für die Fast-Food-Industrie zu schaffen, das potenziell Einweg-Plastikverpackungen ersetzen könnte. Dieser Vortrag stellt das Mak-Pak Scale-Up Projekt vor, einschließlich des Hintergrunds, der wichtigsten Errungenschaften, der aktuellen Aktivitäten und der Zukunftspläne im Rahmen der UN-Nachhaltigkeitsziele und der Kreislaufwirtschaft.

At global scale, transformative change is increasingly postulated for tackling ‘wicked’ problems such as climate change or global biodiversity loss, vis á vis sustainable food security. But how this transformative change can be achieved is unclear. This presentation will focus on the question of how can we fully realize the opportunities of the ocean? Storytelling, or creating a narrative, is a useful tool for communicating because stories appeal to our emotions, build positive associations and stick in our memories. There is a need for a set of mutually compatible compelling new narratives to motivate and guide transformative change conducive to the marine food security challenge under climate change. These cannot rely mainly on ecology but need to address economic and social concerns and should contribute to the reduction of inequalities. Therefore, in order to shift from ocean illiteracy to societal literacy that facilitates the needed transformative changes, we need to create narratives around the social dimensions and the contextual societal priorities of sustainable food security. This process includes revisiting our assumptions and biases, considering who are the winners and losers by taking cultural diversity seriously and opening spaces for debate on how we want to live is essential to achieve much-advocated value change and to find ways for a good life and decent living for all without degrading the oceans. Here we present an interdisciplinary exploration on creating narratives for sustainable marine food systems, using the growing industry of seaweed aquaculture as a case study.

Introduction The use of single-use packaging materials has increased dramatically in recent decades in parallel with increasing trends in convenience and fast-food. Most of these packaging materials are made of non-biodegradable, petroleum-based polymers that have degradative impacts on the environment and contribute to the global plastic pollution crisis. Finding alternative packaging materials is an important step towards building a bio-based circular economy. Sustainable land-based macroalgae cultivation can provide a solution, as it eliminates land-use pressure on coastal areas, doesn’t interfere with recreational activities or agriculture, reduces seasonal limitations, allows for complete control over product quality, and ensures consistent quality and traceability. Here, we present the success story of land-based macroalgae production for sustainable packaging solutions in the food industry via the Mak-Pak and Mak-Pak Scale-Up projects. Materials and Methods An initial screening of local macroalgae species was conducted based on detailed knowledge of growth rates, seasonality, geographic range, edibility, iodine content, biochemical properties, bioactivity, robustness and ease of cultivation. Different combinations of selected macroalgae were tested to develop a biodegradable, edible packaging prototype that was rated by consumer tests. In a follow-up project, we are focusing on eliminating the biggest bottleneck: scaling-up biomass production. We have partnered with a local, innovative farmer to sustainably scale-up and optimize biomass production for our sustainable, biodegradable macroalgae-based packaging material for the food industry. Results Several species of suitable macroalgae were selected based on the screening protocol and a method for using different combinations of selected species is described in a patent application for the packaging prototype. The packaging prototype was positively reviewed in consumer tests, where the consumers were pleasantly surprised by the neutral taste and smell. We could also show that certain components of the macroalgae that are important for packaging functionality (e.g. antioxidant activity) could be optimized during land-based production in artificial seawater. Currently we are in the early stages of scaling-up production and selecting strains to optimize growth rates and robustness, where we can complete the life cycle of one selected species from single cells to mature gametophytes within 6 weeks. With controlled induction of reproduction, we can continually provide material for transplantation to large-scale systems. Discussion The Mak-Pak and Mak-Pak Scale-Up projects have been featured in numerous news articles, exhibitions, and podcasts throughout Germany, Europe and even New Zealand. Our experience has shown that there is a lot of public interest in macroalgae-based packaging solutions. Consumers have become aware of the plastic pollution crisis and are open to alternatives to plastic packaging. Consequently, we have recently seen rapid changes in packaging trends in the cosmetic and food industries. Here we show that it is possible to produce a biodegradable, edible packaging from macroalgae biomass for the food-industry. Not only is this a success story for sustainable aquaculture, but also for macroalgae cultivation in general. This project has increased public awareness of macroalgae and contributed to a dialogue about the diversity of products and services that macroalgae can provide as we strive towards a sustainable, circular economy. However, optimization of the raw material production as well as the packaging itself is still underway. Furthermore, limitations in the food-industry require that our raw material meets high quality standards. In other industries where the quality of the raw material is not a limiting factor, there is enormous potential for macroalgae-based packaging solutions.

The trend to consume “to-go”, “ready-to-eat” or “convenience” food has increased over the last years (Statista, 2016). As a consequence, the amount of single-used packaging materials has also increased. Most of these packaging materials are made of non-biodegradable, petroleum-based polymers that have degradative impacts on the environment. This aspect is in conflict with the consumer expectations to have healthy and environmental-friendly food products including the surrounding packaging. Therefore, new, innovative and sustainable packaging concepts need to be established. A way for achieving this ambitious goal could be biodegradable and/or edible packaging concepts made form macroalgae (seaweeds). Macroalgae provide a sustainable, inexpensive and renewable raw material for packaging concepts due to their naturally occurring quantities and characteristic polymers such as alginate or agar. Moreover, marine hydrocolloids are commonly used in the food industry as thickeners or gelling agents and are accepted by consumers. For the proof of concept to develop a macroalgal-based packaging, we conducted a screening of local sources of green, red and brown algae to select a portfolio of functional and environmental-friendly species. We take into account that the intact and sensible maritime ecosystem should still be protected. Key markers for the selection were the concentration of iodine (low), hydrocolloids (high) and possible toxins (low) as well as local availability. The biodegradable macroalgae packaging concept was studied by using different mechanical preparation techniques under various conditions (e.g. energy input, shear rate, temperature etc.). The applied technology as well as the type of macroalgae led to different material properties of the produced macroalgal-based packaging. In contrast with common studies, where edible films are created by extracted hydrocolloids, the aim of the novel production system is to use the macro-algae in an ecological and economic optimized manner. The project (“Mak-Pak”) is supported by funds of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) based on a decision of the Parliament of the Federal Republic of Germany via the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE) under the innovation support program.

Ocean acidification reduces the concentration of carbonate ions and increases those of bicarbonate ions in seawater compared with the present oceanic conditions. This altered composition of inorganic carbon species may, by interacting with ultraviolet radiation (UVR), affect the physiology of macroalgal species. However, very little is known about how calcareous algae respond to UVR and ocean acidification. Therefore, we conducted an experiment to determine the effects of UVR and ocean acidification on the calcified rhodophyte Corallina officinalis using CO2-enriched cultures with and without UVR exposure. Low pH increased the relative electron transport rates (rETR) but decreased the CaCO3 content and had a miniscule effect on growth. However, UVA (4.25 W m(-2)) and a moderate level of UVB (0.5 W m(-2)) increased the rETR and growth rates in C. officinalis, and there was a significant interactive effect of pH and UVR on UVR-absorbing compound concentrations. Thus, at low irradiance, pH and UVR interact in a way that affects the multiple physiological responses of C. officinalis differently. In particular, changes in the skeletal content induced by low pH may affect how C. officinalis absorbs and uses light. Therefore, the light quality used in ocean acidification experiments will affect the predictions of how calcified macroalgae will respond to elevated CO2 German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) Biological Impacts of Ocean Acidification (BIOACID)