Along the coast of Brittany, mussel farmers have long faced a persistent challenge: up to 20% of their annual production (6 000 to 12 000 tonnes) is undersized and usually discarded at sea or left to rot, causing environmental damage.
Supported by the Saint-Malo Emerald Coast FLAG, mussel producers, local authorities, and researchers collaborated to develop a mobile processing unit to transform these by-products on-site into hydrolysate for methane production, providing clean, renewable energy. The remaining shells are crushed and reused as fertiliser or animal feed, creating a closed-loop system that reduces transport costs and adds value. This circular approach supports sustainable practices, eco-friendly waste management, and reduces environmental harm while opening new revenue streams for farmers.
- Start date
- 1 Feb 2020
- Project locations
- France
- Overall budget
- €195 000
- EU contribution
- €78 00040% of the overall budget
Results
- On-site processing capacity of up to 1.5 tonnes of undersized mussels per day.
- Reduction of environmental impact and transportation needs through local waste valorisation.
- Demonstration of a scalable model to create value from shellfish by-products with the potential to replicate in other shellfish production areas.
Contact
Jean-Marie Grosmaitre
- Name
- Jean-Marie Grosmaitre
- Organisation
- Cultimer France Producteurs Associés SAS
- Phone number
- + 33 2 99 80 60 60
Saint-Malo Emerald Coast LAG
- Name
- Saint-Malo Emerald Coast LAG
- feamp [dot] cerbm
pays-stmalo [dot] fr - Phone number
- +33 7 70 05 18 67