CellBloom: A Sustainable Alternative to Fetal Bovine Serum
March 24, 2026
News Developing alternatives to Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) is a key step for cellular aquaculture FBS is widely used in cell culture as a source
A new paradigm in blue biotechnology
A new paradigm in blue biotechnology
INOVACEL is a pioneering research project that focuses on the production of marine proteins from cells and microalgae, without resorting to traditional aquaculture or animal slaughter. An ethical, circular, and sustainable approach, born in the Algarve.
Our Partners
About the Project
INOVACEL is an innovative food biotechnology project that develops sustainable solutions for the production of animal proteins derived from marine organisms through cellular aquaculture. Promoted by a regional consortium from Algarve, the project focuses on creating cell lines from fish and marine invertebrates, using microalgae to formulate culture media without animal components, and valuing the production waste. Based on the circular economy, this integrated approach aims to reduce environmental impact, increase the efficiency of cellular aquaculture processes, and position the Algarve at the forefront of blue biotechnology.
OUR OBJECTIVES
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Activities
Science joins forces with sustainability to transform the way we produce food. Learn about the pillars of our research.
A1.
We develop cell lines of fish and marine invertebrates with high nutritional value, cultivated without animal serum. The goal: a new generation of ethical and sustainable animal protein.
A2.
We use microalgae as raw material to create innovative culture media for cellular aquaculture, without resorting to animal-derived components.
A3.
We explore circular economy solutions to treat effluents generated during cell culture, using microalgae. This approach enables the removal of cellular metabolites from spent cell medium, making its reuse possible, while simultaneously producing value-added biomass.
A4.
We assess the environmental and economic impact of the circular economy system developed at INOVACEL, using methodologies such as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Technical-Economic Assessment (TEA), in order to ensure the long-term viability of the model.
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We disseminate the technical and scientific results of the project to the academic community, stakeholders, policy makers, and the general public, promoting scientific literacy and informed dialogue around cellular aquaculture.
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We coordinate all technical, scientific, and administrative activities at INOVACEL, ensuring quality, innovation, and the fulfillment of proposed objectives.
START OF THE PROJECT
The project began in January 2025 with a kick-off meeting that brought together partners Necton, S2AQUAcoLAB, GreenCoLab, and CCMAR. Focusing on the sustainable production of marine animal protein, INOVACEL marks a new chapter in blue biotechnology in the Algarve.
RECENT NEWS
News Developing alternatives to Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) is a key step for cellular aquaculture FBS is widely used in cell culture as a source
News The process begins with the establishment of new cell lines from tissue explants. From these small tissue fragments, cells proliferate and form stable cultures
Eva Dias successfully defended her Master’s thesis in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Algarve.
The thesis was entitled ‘Characterisation of the VSa13 cell line in the context of cellular aquaculture’.
These microorganisms are being used to develop a sustainable alternative to animal serum, enabling more ethical and environmentally responsible cell culture systems, while improving technical viability, cost-effectiveness, scalability, and performance.
Research and Results
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Articles and studies published in scientific journals and conferences.
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Reports, analyses, and other deliverables produced by the consortium.
Our Partners
CEO and Director of Innovation
Necton
Senior Researcher
CCMAR
Senior Researcher
S2AQUAcoLAB
General coordinator
GreenCoLab
If you have any questions, would like to know more about the ongoing research, or explore possibilities for collaboration, please do not hesitate to contact us. The INOVACEL team is available to answer scientific, technical, or institutional questions.
