molecules identif ied as promising, f irst in the

laboratory and then on an industrial scale.”

Creating a logistics network and

overcoming seasonal variations

Once those molecules with promising active

properties have been fractionated, each of

them must be qualif ied in terms of agronomic

or zootechnical response. This stage will

involve tests requiring the expertise and

experience of the CMI Roullier. In terms of

industrial applications, two main challenges

stand out. Starf ish biological material

deteriorates in just a few hours, so it will be

essential to work with the f ishing community

to devise an eff icient logistics network.

“We’ll also have to determine whether

seasonality could impact those molecules

identif ied as promising. Ideally, we’d like to be

able to prioritise those whose qualities remain

constant throughout the year”, explains

Jordan Valente. Armed with this roadmap,

the partners involved in both projects

have four years of work ahead of them to

demonstrate the viability of a circular process

to develop what could be a sustainable

maritime resource.

Every year, our Roullier World Innovation Centre (CMI

Roullier) launches and integrates projects that leverage

scientif ic research, technical innovation and the use of

local resources for plant, animal or soil nutrition. The

latest of these focuses on the starf ish of the Brittany

coast. We take a closer look.

The challenge of extracting and

fractionating promising molecules

Two projects are now ready to go live as

a result of the Concarneau marine biology

station initiative. Run by the Roullier World

Innovation Centre (CMI Roullier) and

supported by the Brittany and Normandy

Regions, the f irst of these is called Filasterid.

“Its aim is to develop innovative solutions

for plant and animal nutrition, for example in

the form of mineral supplements to enrich

feed rations or biostimulants for plants, and

to examine the potential for biomaterials”,

explains CMI Innovation Performance Manager

Jordan Valente. The second project is

supported by the French National Research

Agency (ANR) and focuses on specif ic

applications in animal, plant and human

health. It also involves a number of other

organisations, including the MNHN, Groupe

Roullier and several research laboratories in

Western France. The central challenge for

both projects is to extract and fractionate the

mineral and organic phases. “The success

of our approach will depend partly on our

ability to f ind uses for 100% of the starf ish”,

says Thomas Georgelin, Managing Director

of the CMI Roullier. Hence the importance of

identifying, splitting out and purifying those

What can we do with starf ish? Excessive

numbers of this invasive species are

contributing to ecosystem destabilisation on

the coasts of Brittany. Their presence also

causes problems for the f ishing community

— who have no option but to destroy starf ish

bycatch — and shellf ish farmers. In response,

the Concarneau marine biology station

wondered whether these predators could be

transformed into a high-added-value product.

The reason for their interest is that the organic

content and calcareous skeletons of starf ish

contain a broadly diverse range of elements

and molecules that could potentially be used

in human, animal or plant health applications,

or in biomaterials. But before considering the

creation of a dedicated sector, its long-term

potential would have to be demonstrated.

So with the help of professional f ishermen,

the Concarneau branch of the MNHN (the

French National Museum of Natural History)

set out to assess starf ish stocks in the bays of

Concarneau and Douarnenez.

The result was that more than 1,500 tonnes of

adult starf ish were caught between 2021 and

2023. Extrapolated to include all the French

coastline, these quantities were considered

suff icient to advance the project on to the

next stage.

Seeking value-creating

outlets for starf ish

Approximately

500 tonnes

That’s the estimated weight

of starf ish bycatch

in Cornwall alone.

Moving the dial on

sustainability

One of the ultimate aims of these

starf ish projects is to reduce their

population to a level that will help

create a more secure future for the

f ishing industry. To avoid taking

things too far, catch quotas could

be introduced to help ensure the

long-term future of the sector.

The creation of a specif ic f isheries

activity is not currently an option

under consideration, based on the

principle that only starf ish bycatch

should be used in this way to

create value.

LEVER 1 – CHOICE OF RESOURCES – KEY PRINCIPLES

Non-Financial Performance Statement 2024 16