Icelandic blue biotech company Marea is turning overlooked biological side-streams into functional biomaterials, starting with an edible coating made from spent microalgae that extends produce shelf-life while reducing reliance on plastic packaging

Across global biotechnology and food production systems, vast volumes of biological material are generated every day that never reach consumers. In many cases, these side-streams are treated as a problem to be managed rather than a resource to be developed. As pressure mounts to reduce waste, cut plastic use and improve food system efficiency, those overlooked materials are increasingly being re-evaluated.