Blue biotechnology - what is it?

Leading scientists see blue biotechnology as a groundbreaking technology for addressing global socio-ecological and economic challenges, such as the provision of sustainable food and energy resources, according to the FDP in its minor inquiry (19/8394). But what exactly is blue technology? According to the FDP, the term "blue biotechnology" encompasses those biotechnological applications that utilize or target aquatic organisms (marine and aquatic). Further evidence of the trend toward blue biotechnology is the FAO World Fisheries Report (2018). According to the report, aquaculture is the fastest-growing sector in the production of animal-based food (FAO, SOFA 2018: State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture). The aim of the initiative is to make a valuable contribution to solving pressing social problems in the areas of environmental protection, human health, and the sustainable supply of food, energy, and other goods through the coordinated use and application of blue biotechnology ( www.ptj.de/projektfoerderung/biooekonomie/era-mbt ). The FDP believes that further research and development of blue biotechnology is important, for example, to preserve marine biodiversity and to discover new pharmaceuticals or industrially usable enzymes. To this end, the FDP has formulated 25 questions, among other things seeking to determine in which areas the Federal Government sees the greatest potential for use and sustainable economic potential for blue biotechnology, both in Germany and in developing and emerging countries. The Federal Government's response remains to be seen; blue biotechnology is likely to primarily involve genetic engineering work and processes. In this respect, there are signs of an attempt in politics to change the terminology.