Key Expoitable Results (KERs)

... using four OHI goals: fish provisioning, carbon storage, clean waters, and biodiversity

The AtlantECO Final Conference - The research and innovation project AtlantECO, funded by the European Union, is in its final year. It brought together experts from Europe, South America and Africa, conducting research on the Atlantic Ocean Microbiomes, Microplastics and Seascape connectivity. The objective of the project is to provide knowledge-based resources for a better understanding and management of the Atlantic Ocean and its ecosystem services. AtlantECO also engaged with citizens and actors from the industry and policy sectors in order to stimulate responsible behaviour and Blue Growth. The AtlantECO Final Scientific Conference was an opportunity for AtlantECO partners and other European and international research projects (e.g. Mission Atlantic, iAtlantic, SUMMER, NECCTON, eDNAbyss, BioGeoScapes, EXPORTS, APERO, ACE, GO-SHIP) to present & discuss their latest findings and approaches. One Ocean, One Health - The scientific community is increasingly asked to integrate fundamental research and socio-economic evaluations in order to address societal needs, inform policy makers, support the economy, and advance international cooperation. Under the UN Decade of Ocean Science, this endeavour is embodied in the concept of One Ocean, One Health. While the focus of the AtlantECO Final Scientific Conference is to present & discuss scientific results, participants are asked to highlight how their science is relevant to that concept. To that end, the AtlantECO Final Scientific Conference was organised around a handful of Themes that correspond to key ecosystem services provided by Microbiomes of the Atlantic Seascape, i.e. climate regulation, food provision, health provision and regulation, deep sea ecosystems support, and biodiversity. Microbiomes of the Atlantic Seascape - The Atlantic seascape is made of 3D physical processes such as large river plumes, upwelling and downwelling associated with coastal winds and mesoscale eddies, boundary currents and gyres. This highly dynamic system shapes the diversity of marine microbiomes and the ecosystem services that they provide. While the human microbiome is composed principally of bacteria, marine microbiomes consist of a much broader ensemble of microscopic organisms that inhabit river plumes, coastal waters, the open ocean, the atmosphere and plastic particles, i.e. the plastisphere. Microbiomes of the Atlantic Seascape can be used to develop diagnostic tools and metrics that assess the health status of the Atlantic Ocean. The AtlantECO Final Scientific Conference was an opportunity to present & discuss innovative methods, new digital knowledge, multi-omics approaches, data analysis & modelling, and assessments & forecasts that help us better understand Microbiomes of the Atlantic Seascape.

This policy brief explores the challenges and opportunities for fostering equitable, long-term international scientific cooperation in ocean sciences across the Atlantic. Developed through collaboration between European, Brazilian, and South African partners working in the EU-funded AtlantECO project, this policy brief highlights the need for fair, ethical, and inclusive research practices that respect different cultures and local realities. Despite various international agreements, significant barriers remain, including disparities in research capacity, funding, and technology access. Bureaucratic hurdles and the prevalence of “parachute science” further limit meaningful collaboration. Strengthening infrastructure, streamlining administrative processes, promoting research mobility, expanding open-access research, and fostering co-funding mechanisms are essential steps toward a more balanced research landscape. This brief advocates for a more inclusive and effective approach to Ocean science by addressing these challenges, ensuring equitable participation in marine research and supporting sustainable ocean management.

This policy brief highlights the urgent need to align scientific innovation with marine policy, enhance transatlantic cooperation across Europe, Africa, and South America, and accelerate the uptake of bio-based and nature-based solutions to support a Sustainable Blue Economy. Despite a robust framework of international and European policies, implementation remains fragmented, with limited integration of scientific knowledge into policy. Marine microbiomes represent a promising frontier for sustainability, offering new opportunities for environmental restoration and economic growth. However, realizing their potential requires coherent regulatory frameworks and equitable access and benefit-sharing mechanisms. The AtlantECO project demonstrates the power of interdisciplinary research, collaborative innovation networks, and evidence-based policy to tackle ocean challenges across the Atlantic basin. Key recommendations in this brief focus on reinforcing transatlantic collaboration, improving the science-policy interface, and building shared systems for ocean knowledge and innovation. These measures are essential to advancing climate resilience, ocean health, and equitable economic development throughout the All-Atlantic community. The brief ultimately aims to elevate awareness, build capacity, promote responsible practices, and catalyse a Blue Growth strategy that unites the All-Atlantic region, aligned with AtlantECO’s mission.

Automatic pipeline based on the Nextflow framework for enzyme discovery established at SINTEF.