The 5th dimension will be blue.

The unprecedented crisis we have imposed on our planet requires solutions that will dictate the fate of future generations. Turning back is not a viable option and blaming climate change deniers is not going to help break the deadlock.

The strength of our species has always resided in its ability to adapt to its environment and overcome times of hardship through innovation. Our society is constantly developing new disruptive technologies that provide tangible and sustainable solutions to our current crisis. Marine bio-resources can become an essential component of this ecological revolution in several regards.

First of all, our actions must target consumers, who ultimately have the power to influence the future products which industries will manufacture. Over the past ten years, BioMarine has constantly promoted innovative products that positively contribute to the enhancement of our society. After failed attempts to raise public and political awareness on these issues, we brought together different industries and investors in order to prepare future sustainable and carbon free technologies. The blue economy is becoming more mainstream, with the media beginning to raise political awareness on these issues.

Since 2017, BioMarine’s strategy was built on three main pillars:

-          the development of blue bioplastics by using seaweed or fishing byproducts; it requires no water, no arrable land, and the produce captures 3.7 times more carbon per hectare than a forest does

- provide alternatives (cellular Mareculture ) to produce proteins without depleting animal food-stocks. This technology relies on the cellular reproduction cycle of plant or animal cells at industrial scale. The first products have arrived on the market under the name of "artificial meat"

- The development of bio photosynthesis in order to produce bio-molecules and bio-fuels on an industrial scale, without any negative externalities for the environment.

It is important to anticipate the growing needs of industries and consumers, whilst ensuring that all the ingredients necessary are obtained in a sustainable matter. To this end, BioMarine has joined forces with an international project, International Blue Coop, structured around blue production cooperatives from around the world. The first blue cooperative to exist is from Quebec. Despite the absence of any political and economic support from the government, a couple visionary women decided to create a new socio-economic tissue based on the cultivation sea products: sea cucumbers with exceptional properties, seaweed for nutrition and pharmaceuticals, or fishing byproducts for nutraceuticals. This non-exhaustive list underlines the real potential of our oceans. This fall, we will be launching the International Blue Cooperative during the 2019 BioMarine Convention. This cooperative will bring together Canada's Atlantic provinces with other regions and countries such as Alaska, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, and Spain.

 The oceans are more than just a simple carbon regulator: they are the promise of a new economic frontier and of a more socio-economic sustainable lifestyle. Everyone must take part in the construction and development of this new approach which our blue industry is now piloting.

 I look forward to seeing you at our next Convention to create the 5th dimension which will be blue.

Pierre Erwes, BioMarine Chairman