India’s First Shrimp Shell Biorefinery by ICAR-CIFT Sets New Benchmark for Sustainability

By Amod Ashok Salgaonkar

India’s first shrimp shell biorefinery plant, established by Longshore Technologies Private Limited in Maharashtra, is paving the way for sustainable practices in the shrimp processing industry with technological support from ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (ICAR-CIFT). This groundbreaking initiative marks a significant milestone in advancing the circular economy within the fisheries sector.

Dr. George Ninan, Director of ICAR-CIFT, highlighted the institute’s commitment to developing practical solutions for India’s fisheries industry. By bridging the gap between research and application, ICAR-CIFT is leading the charge in promoting sustainable technologies that drive innovation, entrepreneurship, and job creation.

For years, the shrimp processing industry in India has struggled with managing shrimp waste, seen as an environmental challenge. However, ICAR-CIFT recognized the potential of shrimp shell waste as a valuable resource and spearheaded the development of technologies to convert this by-product into high-value products. This initiative underscores the institute’s dedication to fostering sustainability in the blue economy.

The shrimp shell biorefinery technology developed by ICAR-CIFT contributes to a circular economy by transforming waste into raw materials for various industries. In addition to reducing environmental impact, the technology yields sought-after byproducts like chitin, chitosan, and shrimp protein hydrolysate, which find applications in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.

The journey began in 2020 at ICAR-CIFT’s Veraval Research Centre, where entrepreneur Amey Naik, in collaboration with ICAR-CIFT scientists, explored the potential of shrimp waste. This collaboration led to the establishment of a partnership for technology transfer with ICAR-CIFT, Kochi.

ICAR-CIFT’s expertise in fisheries post-harvest technologies played a pivotal role in optimizing processes to extract proteins, chitin, and chitosan from shrimp shell waste. This aligns with the institute’s commitment to promoting circular economy practices in the seafood industry.

Through dedicated efforts from 2022 to 2023, ICAR-CIFT’s scientific team, led by Dr. Bindu J. and Dr. Elavarasan K., worked tirelessly to bring Naik’s vision to fruition. Pilot-scale trials, process optimizations, and collaboration with stakeholders were key components of this success story.

Today, Longshore Technologies Pvt. Ltd. in Mumbai processes two tons of shrimp shell waste daily, producing valuable products and contributing to waste reduction and economic growth. With a capacity to process 400 tons annually, the facility has created jobs and is projected to generate significant revenue.

(Source: ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Kochi)