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Description
Limpets are one of the most appreciated marine mollusks in the Macaronesian region. In the archipelago of Madeira alone, their consumption reaches up to 180 tons yearly. However, the edible part of the limpets corresponds to only 30% of the total weight while the remaining 70%, around 100 tons per year, relates to their shells which are considered waste and sent to landfills, even though they are potential sources of biomaterials for other industries. The CELS project, funded by EEA and Norway Grants, aims to address the under-usage of this valuable marine resource by creating a new value-chain to reuse this waste in other industries following a circular economy approach. To that end, GoLimpets and NOFIMA will engage in a collaborative effort to determine the quantity and quality of biomaterials that can be extracted from limpet shells, taking advantage of the recognized expertise of NOFIMA’s analytical services applied to the food industry.
The main goal of the CELS Project is to establish the reutilization of limpet shell waste to produce new value chains. This will be achieved by firstly addressing the legal, logistic and food safety aspects related to the collection of shell waste from restauranters, thus establishing a network of potential waste providers and the protocol for its adequate handling. Secondly, the technical aspects of the mineral extraction process will be addressed resulting in the installation of the required equipment for processing the shells, and the initial tests of the mineral extraction process according to industry (client) interests. Lastly, the extractable materials will be evaluated regarding yield and purity of the final product and a scalable business plan will be produced.
Overall, the CELS Project will contribute to a more environmentally friendly approach to waste management of limpet shells resulting in less waste being deposited in landfills, creating jobs, and promoting literacy on marine resources.