The oceans are the basis of our life on earth.
We owe them the oxygen of every second breath.
They shape our planet by shaping landscapes, climate and culture.
Their services to humans through their diversity of forms and species are hard to quantify – the value of hitherto unused chemical compounds for the treatment of cancer is estimated at around 4 trillion Euros. Even more innovative drivers and values are dormant in other areas: nutritional supplements and cosmetics from algae, enzymes for the production of textile dyes, breeding of cartilage cells with jellyfish collagen, antimicrobial coatings on hip prostheses and energy production with hydrogen from algae.
So far, we have failed to manage this “heritage of mankind” intelligently and sustainably.
What’s more, we have already lost a large part of these values and services. That is why the world community has identified the sustainable use and protection of the oceans as a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 14) of the 2030 Agenda and called for immediate action (Our Ocean, Our Future – Call for Action).
Marine research and marine biotechnology enable us to better understand, protect and use the oceans more sustainably.
The Nordverbund Marine Biotechnologie e.V. wants to support this approach and to anchor it in society – in everyday life, in politics, economics and science.
What is Marine Biotechnology?
“The application of science and technology to living organisms, as well as parts, products and models thereof, to alter living or non-living materials for the production of knowledge, goods and services.”