The Portuguese PINKTech project, that uses pink bacteria rich in carotenoids to intensify the color of farmed fish such as salmon and ornamental fish, was one of the three winning projects of the Portuguese edition of the European BluAct competition that aims to stimulate sustainable entrepreneurship and the transfer of good practices in the blue economy supporting startups and investments related to the sea economy.
Researchers from the Interdisciplinary Center for Marine and Environmental Research at the University of Porto (CIIMAR-UP) found color transfer when feeding Daphnia with the pink bacteria that also led to an increase in the crustacean fertility. Now researchers want to test it in salmon to improve flesh color.
The business potential of this project was recognized by the BluAct contest jury which ranked PINKtech in 2nd place and will allow a year of incubation at UPTEC Polo do Mar and integrate in the acceleration program.
