HIGHGEL

Promotion of collaborative research (partnerships between enterprises and research centers)

C1-1.1-4

LP: Università degli Studi di Palermo – Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Forestali (SAAF) – CUP: B73C24002530002

PP2: Aquatic Resources Malta – Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights; Parliamentary Secratariart for Fisheries, Aquaculture and Animal Rights. CUP: G13D24000150007

PP3: Greenable Srl  - CUP: G73D24000130007

PP4: Rosso di Mazara Srl  - CUP: G93D24000160007

PP5: Leonardo Engineering and Research – CUP: G33D24000160007

• Civico di Cristina Benfratelli  - ARNAS
• Reparto grandi ustioni; The Exterminator

The HIGHGEL project, within a One Health framework, enhances fishery by-products from Sicily and Malta to develop sustainable feeds and innovative biotechnologies. Building on BYTHOS and BYTHOS EXTEND, it transforms marine biomass into fishmeal and bioactive compounds for livestock, aquaculture, pharmaceutical, and biomedical uses (e.g., hydrogels and fish-skin wound dressings). The project tests enriched diets with fish proteins and local plant-based ingredients functionalized with Mediterranean essential oils. It also explores alternative proteins (like frass) and includes a pilot supply chain for red shrimp in Mazara del Vallo

• 4 – Feed formulations for livestock and aquaculture
• 1 – Report on the nutritional characterization of feed
• 1 – Pilot action for feed evaluation on farm animals
• 1 – Functionalized hydrogel from fish side streams for burn treatment
• 1 – Fish skin device for wound/burn healing
• 1 – Evaluation of biomedical devices at the Burns Unit of Palermo Civico Hospital
• 1 – Value chain model created for the shrimp industry
• 1 – Pilot action tested in the shrimp industry of Mazara del Vallo
• 1 – Analysis of the impact of the new shrimp supply chain during the pilot test

• Strengthening of research and innovation capacities in the fisheries value chain between Sicily and Malta
• Adoption of innovative solutions by companies
• Production of high-protein feed
• Improvement in the quality of meat, milk, eggs, and fish
• Development and validation of innovative biomedical devices (hydrogels and fish skin dressings) for the treatment of wounds and burns
• Creation and testing of a pilot supply chain in the red shrimp sector in Mazara del Vallo
• Evaluation of new alternative feed ingredients (e.g., insect-based frass)
• Dissemination of key enabling technologies (KETs) for sustainable growth, particularly in bioeconomy and circular economy sectors

Porf. Antonino Di Grigoli
📧 antonino.digrigoli@unipa.it
📞 338 769 5872