The SMARTCHAIN project focuses on transforming the blue bioeconomy by using advanced digital tools to improve decision-making, traceability, sustainability, and circularity in supply chains. By digitising critical data such as location, quality, and resource usage, the project enhances real-time transparency and better resource management. It also measures sustainability through social, environmental, and economic indicators to address challenges in food supply chains. Improving resource efficiency within bioeconomy value chains is a key priority for reducing environmental impacts and enhancing economic performance. SMARTCHAIN mapped aquaculture and fisheries supply chains in Norway and Iceland, focusing on food loss and waste. The project identified critical points of loss, quantified biological material flows, and emphasized the need to include sustainability metrics—such as energy use and carbon footprint—into traceability systems. Research within SMARTCHAIN showed that regulatory interventions during fishing and better traceability of by-products (like rest raw materials) could increase their utilisation. Enhanced cooperation between fishing fleets, seafood processors, and the marine ingredient sector is crucial for improving resource management. The development of onboard processing and storage technologies is seen as a major opportunity for progress. One innovative achievement of the project was a robotic sorting mechanism based on 3D vision and artificial intelligence. Equipped with a robotic arm and an RGB-D camera, the system automatically sorts raw materials, offering a scalable solution that can process multiple objects simultaneously, improving efficiency. Student researchers contributed by developing a simulation model to optimize Seagardenʼs supply chain, and working with BRIM to link energy use with fish quality. These initiatives aim to maximize fish quality, optimize profits, and improve vessel routing, balancing sustainability with economic objectives. Additional research in the project focused on optimizing raw material and energy use in the pelagic fishing industry. A model was created to help companies balance vessel routing, raw material utilization, and energy consumption, minimizing energy use while maintaining fish quality. Another model calculated optimal routes and schedules for fishing vessels, aiming to maximize profitability from fishmeal production. SMARTCHAIN also collaborated with Seagarden to develop a hydrolysis protocol for producing marine collagen from fish skin, further advancing biological and chemical product specifications. Additionally, the project contributed to establishing sustainability indicators for fisheries and aquaculture, based on frameworks from the European Commission, FAO, and GRI. These indicators cover environmental, economic, social, and governance aspects, assessing resource utilisation in Norwegian and Icelandic supply chains. The research also pinpointed here food loss and waste occur and explored the reasons behind them. Stakeholder engagement played a vital role in SMARTCHAINʼs approach, with consultations conducted to gauge openness to data sharing and improving transparency. These discussions underscored the need for cross-sector strategies to foster a circular bioeconomy. Transitioning to a circular economy could improve resource efficiency and turn waste streams into valuable products, contributing to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals. One of the projectʼs technological advancements is a blockchain-based traceability system to improve transparency and sustainability in seafood supply chains. This system was designed using data models built from stakeholder surveys and interviews, capturing sustainability and circularity information necessary for comprehensive traceability. SMARTCHAIN also developed a simulation framework to assess the impact of improved processes, logistics, and information flows in seafood value chains, focusing on the Norwegian cod industry. The simulation identified key intervention points to reduce waste and optimize resource use, providing valuable insights for policymakers. Findings showed that onboard preservation technologies could enhance fish quality, and regulatory actions are needed to increase by-product utilization. Changes in consumer behaviour, such as choosing frozen fillets over fresh ones, can significantly reduce food loss, while penalties for landfilling unsold fish may encourage better inventory management. To promote broader awareness, SMARTCHAIN is preparing two policy briefs on resource utilization in fisheries and circularity in blue bioeconomy value chains. Additionally, seven fact sheets summarizing key findings are being finalized for national and international communication. In summary, the SMARTCHAIN project delivers innovative, actionable solutions to improve sustainability and circularity of the Bluebio economy.
Coordinator:
Dr Rita Vasconcellos L. d’Oliveira Bouman, SINTEF Ocean, Climate and Sustainability
Partners:
Dr Gudrun Olafsdottir, University of Iceland
Prof Allan Larsen, DTU
Dr Sigurdur Bogason, Markmar
Dr Geir Åsmund Myge Hansen, Seagarden
Dr Sveinn Margeirsson, Brim