Fish processing side-streams such as heads, bones, and intestines often discarded as waste, could hold the key to a more sustainable and profitable blue economy. The EU-funded BlueRev project has been working with stakeholders in Denmark and Greenland to transform these side-streams into valuable products while strengthening regional cooperation. 

Both regions face distinct challenges: Greenland deals with limited infrastructure, logistical constraints, and labour shortages, while Denmark’s focus is on optimising already advanced side-stream processing for higher-value applications. BlueRev facilitated collaboration among public authorities, industry leaders, researchers, and SMEs to co-develop targeted, actionable strategies. 

The project introduced practical tools such as the Sustainable Business Model Canvas, governance recommendations adapted for Arctic and Nordic contexts, and social innovation frameworks based on success stories from other EU coastal regions. Case studies, such as dog food from fish processing side-streams, and Omega-3 functional beverages were explored to inspire local entrepreneurship and policy support. 

These efforts are now informing new initiatives across the value chain. A short video highlights some of these best cases emerging from the project work: youtu.be/XhIR_AaQIJo 

All the knowledge generated in BlueRev including business models, governance recommendations, social innovation cases, and communication guidelines, are publicly available and free to access, and can be accessed on the project’s website in the page https://www.bluerevproject.eu/results/. Moreover, the project’s online Support Tool https://support-tool.bluerevproject.eu/ offers webinars, training content, and self-paced courses for stakeholders interested in replicating these approaches in their own regions. 

Key recommendations from the Denmark-Greenland hub include showcasing innovation in action, simplifying rules for small businesses, improving collaboration before market entry, and supporting skills development in the blue bioeconomy. 

The BlueRev consortium invites other coastal regions and industry players to build on these insights and collaborate in making Europe’s blue bioeconomy more circular, inclusive, and resilient. 

About BlueRev 

BlueRev is a Horizon Europe funded project aiming to revitalise local communities through innovative bio-based business models and social innovation in the blue economy. By working with pilot regions in Denmark & Greenland, Italy, and Estonia, the project promotes sustainable use of aquatic biomass, supports circular value chains, and fosters collaboration across sectors. 

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 101060537. The content of this press release reflects only the authors’ views. The European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains. 

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