Maranhão inaugurates an unprecedented structure for the reuse of fish waste and bets on technology developed by Codevasf and UFMA to create high value-added products with potential impact on the bioeconomy.

Written by Hilton Libório

Published on 01/06/2026 at 15:50

Updated on 01/06/2026 at 15:51

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UFMA and Codevasf boost the bioeconomy in Maranhão with technology to transform fish waste into new products and generate income.

Maranhão took an important step in enhancing the fishing production chain with the inauguration of the Contracted Fish and Bioinputs Manufacturing Unit, installed at the Dom Delgado University City in São Luís. The initiative is the result of a partnership between Codevasf and UFMA, with an investment of R$ 1 million aimed at developing technologies for the sustainable use of fish waste.

According to information from Codevasf on May 28, 2026, in addition to the new unit, the UFMA Biotechnology Open Lab was inaugurated, a space dedicated to research, innovation, and technology transfer. The project aims to transform materials that were previously discarded into high-value-added products, strengthening the bioeconomy, the circular economy, and creating new economic opportunities for communities linked to fishing and aquaculture.

The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Edipo Araujo, the rector of UFMA, Fernando Carvalho Silva, the regional superintendent of Codevasf in Maranhão, Clóvis Paz, as well as researchers and representatives of the academic community.

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Partnership between Codevasf and UFMA boosts innovation in Maranhão fishing

The creation of the new unit is part of the project “Development of a Pilot Unit for Production and Certification of Bioactives from the Maranhão Amazon,” executed through a Decentralized Execution Term signed between Codevasf and UFMA.

The proposal goes beyond scientific research. The goal is to create solutions capable of generating real economic impact for Maranhão, promoting technology transfer and encouraging the creation of new products from fish waste.

The initiative also strengthens the integration between universities, the productive sector, and the public authorities, a model considered fundamental to accelerate regional innovation.

Maranhão bets on bioeconomy to turn waste into opportunity

According to data presented by UFMA, up to 70% of processed fish can turn into fish waste. In many cases, these materials end up being discarded without adequate economic use.

With the new structure, the scenario begins to change. The project seeks to use this waste as raw material for the production of bioactives and other inputs intended for high-value-added industrial sectors.

The strategy is aligned with the principles of the bioeconomy, an area that uses biological resources to generate sustainable products, technologies, and solutions.

Among the reused materials are:

Heads;
Skins;
Bones;
Scales;
Viscera;
Swim bladders.

The full utilization of these components reduces waste and expands income generation possibilities for the production chain.

Fish Waste Can Supply High-Tech Industries

The economic potential of fish waste goes far beyond what many people imagine. From these materials, it is possible to extract substances used in various industrial segments.

Among the main products are:

Collagen;
Hyaluronic acid;
Hydroxyapatite;
Oils rich in essential fatty acids;
Bioactive compounds for pharmaceutical applications;
Ingredients for cosmetics;
Materials used in the biomedical field.

These inputs have a wide demand in national and international markets, especially in sectors related to health, beauty, and technology.

The production of these compounds within Maranhão can contribute to increasing regional competitiveness and adding value to the fishing activity.

UFMA’s Open Lab Expands Research and Technology Transfer

The inauguration of the Biotechnology Open Lab represents another important advancement for UFMA. The space was developed within the concept of an open laboratory, allowing the sharing of infrastructure among researchers, students, companies, and partner institutions.

The structure offers modern equipment, specialized technical support, and an adequate environment for research focused on the development of bioactives, bioprocesses, and innovative solutions.

The expectation is that the laboratory will function as an innovation center capable of accelerating the transformation of scientific research into practical market applications.

Furthermore, the initiative strengthens UFMA’s role as a regional reference in research related to bioeconomy and the sustainable use of natural resources.

Circular economy gains strength in the production chain of Maranhão

The project also stands out for its strong connection with the principles of the circular economy. Unlike the traditional production model, which ends in disposal, the circular economy seeks to keep resources in use for as long as possible.

In practice, this means that fish waste ceases to be an environmental problem and becomes raw material for new products.

The benefits include:

Reduction of improper disposal;
Lower environmental impact;
Full utilization of production;
Creation of new revenue sources;
Strengthening of sustainable production chains.

According to representatives of Codevasf, the proposal is also aligned with the guidelines of the National Solid Waste Policy, which encourages solutions aimed at material reuse.

Swim bladder reveals billion-dollar potential of sustainable utilization

Among all fishing by-products, the swim bladder, popularly known as “grude,” stands out for its high added value.

Data from ComexStat show that Brazil exported approximately 637 tons of this product in 2020, generating an estimated revenue of R$ 2.13 billion.

A large part of the demand comes from Asian markets, especially China and Hong Kong. In these countries, the swim bladder has gastronomic applications and is also used in traditional Chinese medicine.

The example demonstrates how materials often discarded can become highly valued products when associated with technology, research, and innovation.

Codevasf brings technology and training to productive communities

Another differentiator of the initiative is the concern with the transfer of knowledge to those directly involved in production.

The project provides actions aimed at cooperatives, associations, producers, private companies, and other members of the fishing chain. The goal is to disseminate technologies capable of increasing the utilization of fish waste and improving the profitability of the activity.

The regional manager of Revitalization and Territorial Development of Codevasf, Adenilson Oliveira, highlighted during the project’s presentation the importance of bringing innovation to productive communities and encouraging more sustainable practices.

This connection between scientific research and the productive sector is considered essential to expand the economic results of the initiative.

A new horizon for fishing, bioeconomy, and regional development

The partnership between Codevasf and UFMA positions Maranhão strategically within discussions on sustainable innovation in Brazil. With an investment of R$ 1 million, the new unit and the Open Lab of Biotechnology lay the foundations for a development model that combines science, technology, and opportunity generation.

By transforming fish waste into high value-added products, the state strengthens the bioeconomy, expands the circular economy, and reduces environmental impacts. More than an academic initiative, the project represents a concrete growth opportunity for fishermen, aquaculturists, cooperatives, and companies operating in the fish production chain.

The expected result is the creation of a new economic dynamic capable of generating income, innovation, and sustainable development for Maranhão in the coming years.

With information from Codevasf.

Maranhão inaugurates an unprecedented structure for the reuse of fish waste and bets on technology developed by Codevasf and UFMA to create high value-added products with potential impact on the bioeconomy.

UFMA and Codevasf boost the bioeconomy in Maranhão with technology to transform fish waste into new products and generate income.

Partnership between Codevasf and UFMA boosts innovation in Maranhão fishing

Maranhão bets on bioeconomy to turn waste into opportunity

Fish Waste Can Supply High-Tech Industries

UFMA’s Open Lab Expands Research and Technology Transfer

Circular economy gains strength in the production chain of Maranhão

Swim bladder reveals billion-dollar potential of sustainable utilization

Codevasf brings technology and training to productive communities

A new horizon for fishing, bioeconomy, and regional development

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Maranhão inaugurates an unprecedented structure for the reuse of fish waste and bets on technology developed by Codevasf and UFMA to create high value-added products with potential impact on the bioeconomy.

UFMA and Codevasf boost the bioeconomy in Maranhão with technology to transform fish waste into new products and generate income.

Partnership between Codevasf and UFMA boosts innovation in Maranhão fishing

Maranhão bets on bioeconomy to turn waste into opportunity

Fish Waste Can Supply High-Tech Industries

UFMA’s Open Lab Expands Research and Technology Transfer

Circular economy gains strength in the production chain of Maranhão

Swim bladder reveals billion-dollar potential of sustainable utilization

Codevasf brings technology and training to productive communities

A new horizon for fishing, bioeconomy, and regional development

A giant printer called the “Ferrari” of concrete has landed in Latin America and can already build a 120-square-meter house in just 48 hours, making the traditional construction site look like something from the last century.

Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt has ceased to be a climatic phenomenon and has become a biological system that feeds on itself, with 8,000 kilometers in length, 37 million tons of algae, and scientists confirm that it is now permanent.

Brazil will harvest a record crop of up to 357 million tons of grains, but it does not have the capacity to store a large part of it. The storage deficit has reached the highest level in history and is equivalent to almost the entire production of Argentina.

She started by collecting oyster shells from restaurants and today she has already accumulated more than 10 tons to restore reefs, recover coastal habitats, and demonstrate how a common waste can become a tool for ocean conservation.

Scientists have discovered that the Earth recycles its own continents in the depths, dragging pieces of crust down during plate collisions and returning them later as magma, in a mechanism called relamination that has helped build the continents for billions of years.

Turkey is building a billion-dollar shortcut to channel billions of dollars by sea with a 45 km long canal, 275 meters wide and 20.75 meters deep, which promises to relieve the Bosphorus amid the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz.

China sends to Africa an 800-ton, 130-meter underground machine to open 9.7 km in a copper mine in Zambia, replacing drilling with explosives and sustaining an annual production of 60,000 tons of the metal in a new era of African digital mining.

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