Uncovering the ocean’s hidden treasures through bioprospecting

Bioprospecting is the exploration of natural sources for small molecules that could be developed into commercially valuable natural products. Currently, most natural products have resulted from terrestrial organism-focussed bioprospecting. Yet, considering that the marine environment covers more than 70% of the Earth and is still largely unexplored, marine organisms represent an untapped resource for sustainable exploration and may reveal a variety of molecules with biotechnological applications.

Protecting marine biodiversity to maintain its potential for future generations

Marine ecosystems are under threat from pollution, climate change and overfishing, which can lead to the loss of invaluable species and their unique bioactive properties. Protecting these ecosystems and maintaining the natural reservoir of bioactive compounds have the potential to revolutionise not only medicine, but also other areas like aquaculture and food production. There is a critical need to preserve biodiversity to ensure a good future for upcoming generations.

What types of applications could marine bioactive natural products have?