1. Marine Microbiome Exploratory Workshops
Agenda
What is the Marine Microbiome & what are we trying to achieve with this
What has been done
Iceland and Norway - need to explore/map the activities
What is being planned in next 6-8 months?
The workshop and its three pillars and follow up workshops
What inputs needed from WGs
Aquaculture – provide feed for increased production, micromes in gut/feed (“alignement of R&D in new areas of common interest” – presentation at the 6 Dec meeting)
Ocean observation and mapping – “strengthening the focus on habitats and biology”, “Atlantic Ocean blueprint”, OceanObs’19
EA2OHS, Ecosystem approach and Ocean health&stressors – final WS in April
Ocean literacy - ??
Marine Microbiome Exploratory Workshops

2. Marine Microbiome
“The marine microbiome is the total of microorganisms and viruses in the ocean and seas and in any connected environment, including the seafloor and marine animals and plants.“
“The diversity of microbial life remains unquantified and largely unknown, and could represent a hidden treasure for human society.”
There is no reason for waiting
The microbiome comprises all of the genetic material within a microbiota (the entire collection of microorganisms in a specific niche, such as the human gut). This can also be referred to as the metagenome of the microbiota.
The Marine Microbiome
An Untapped Source of Biodiversity and Biotechnological Potential
Editors: Stal, Lucas J., Cretoiu, Mariana Silvia (Eds.)

3. Why R&D on Microbial Systems
Request for more knowledge about the broad spectra of participants in ocean biochemical cycles has increased in line with our awareness of anthropogenic pressures on marine ecosystems
It impossible to ignore the threats to the fundamental ecosystem services provided by the oceans
The North Atlantic in particular is subjected to changes on various scales
Ocean currents > regulator of distribution of heat / climate
Ocean acidification > there is no ability to adapt or change
Cold sea holds CO2 better, i.e. acidity increases at faster rate in the Arctic
Increased pressure

4. Challenges to resolve Food production Food security
Effort
Affect
Purpose is to explore possibilities and synergies in the North Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean in regards to microbiome The challenge is to create new knowledge for societal benefits, such as understand the impact of climate change
Food production
Food security
Environmental challenges through ecosystem monitoring
Innovation through the biotechnology toolbox and biorefineries
Goal 14:
By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans
Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries - by increasing the proportion of total research budget allocated to research in the field of marine technology
Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels

5. Workshop overview - Pillars
Marine
Microbiome
Prospecting
Food Value Chain
Environment & Climate
Prospecting
Utilisation of microbiome information,
e.g. new genes
Environment & Climate
Ecological effect
Monitoring climate effects on ocean health
Food value chain
Biomass health and growth
Food security
Seafood processing
Aquaculture feed
Food product development
Prospecting
Gather info on available data and how to exploit those. Utilisation of microbiome information, e.g. new genes
Environment & Climate
Ecology and how do we monitor the changes and ocean health?
Food value chain
How do we validate the biomass health&growth?
How do we turn our knowledge into product development?
What is the role of microbiomes?

6. AORA; a facilitator for cooperation
Important issue for all countries with direct access to the North Atlantic and the Arctic
An opportunity to enhance science that is of importance for a major scientific theme of our time
The opportunity will be explored thoroughly the last year of AORA
Through a series of workshops – we start in Reykjavik (or Brussels)
The ocean is changing and we are not investing enough in R&D to follow/understand these changes
Need more international cooperation
AORA can be the facilitator for this cooperation

7. Planned activities Microbiome CSA Common Ground Workshop
Vienna 4/5 March 2019
Workshop June 27 in Brussels
Workshop Sep/Oct in Reykjavik