Marine algal species comprise of a large portion of polysaccharides which have shown multifunctional properties and health benefits for treating and preventing human diseases. Laminarin, or β-glucan, a storage polysaccharide from brown algae, has been reported to have potential pharmacological properties such as antioxidant, anti-tumor, anti-coagulant, anticancer, immunomodulatory, anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, wound healing, and neuroprotective potential. It has been widely investigated as a functional material in biomedical applications as it is biodegradable, biocompatible, and is low toxic substances. The reported preclinical and clinical studies demonstrate the potential of laminarin as natural alternative agents in biomedical and industrial applications such as nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, functional food, drug development/delivery, and cosmeceuticals. This review summarizes the biological activities of laminarin, including mechanisms of action, impacts on human health, and reported health benefits. Additionally, this review also provides an overview of recent advances and identifies gaps and opportunities for further research in this field. It further emphasizes the molecular characteristics and biological activities of laminarin in both preclinical and clinical settings for the prevention of the diseases and as potential therapeutic interventions.

Perennial rye grass is a widely used forage species in Ireland, on which the ruminant sector of agriculture is heavily dependent. While this species of grass is the primary source of fodder for cows, it is also abundant in plant protein, which could form a potential alternative ingredient in monogastric animal feed using a green biorefinery approach. In this study, perennial rye grass was processed using a novel biorefining process to extract value added products including protein as a potential replacement for soybean meal in monogastric feeds. Feed trials were conducted on a commercial farm with 55 weaner pigs for 31 days until slaughter. The diets comprised a control and a trial diet which integrated the green biorefinery protein concentrate. The effects of the new diet were determined by measuring the daily feed intake (DFI), average weight gain (AWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Amino acid profiles of grass protein concentrate and soybean meal were comparable, with the latter having a slightly higher amount of total protein content, lysine and cysteine. The DFI and ADW indicated that the treatment diet was superior to the control. DFI for the treatment diet (1.512 kg/d) was 8% higher than the control diet (1.400 kg/d) by the end of the trial. Additionally, the ADW for the treatment diet was 6.44% higher than that achieved in the control sample. Meanwhile, FCR calculations indicated that the treatment diet is just as efficient as the conventional diet. Overall, the results of the study indicate positive potential for perennial ryegrass-derived green biorefinery protein concentrate as an alternative protein source for pig feed formulations in Ireland.

The transition to a green economy requires a workforce equipped with green skills to meet the demands of sustainable development and environmental stewardship. This study investigates the alignment between university educational outcomes and industry requirements in Ireland, addressing the persistent gap in green skills. Using a mixed-methods approach, surveys were conducted with students from three Irish universities and companies across diverse sectors. The findings reveal a strong recognition of the importance of green skills among students and companies, yet significant barriers remain. Students report challenges in accessing practical learning experiences, balancing education with personal commitments, and navigating the costs of green certifications. Companies acknowledge the growing need for sustainability expertise but often fail to integrate green skills into recruitment and training strategies, citing high competition for talent and limited awareness of emerging green roles. This study highlights the need for systemic changes in both education and industry. Universities should adopt experiential learning approaches, expand industry collaborations, and ensure flexible access to green education. Companies must prioritise upskilling programmes and align hiring practices with sustainability goals. Policymakers are encouraged to foster public–private partnerships and incentivise investments in green skills development. Addressing these challenges can strengthen the country’s position as a leader in the global green transition, fostering innovation and inclusivity in its workforce.

The use of milling by-products as ingredients in food formulations has increased gradually over the past years, due to their well-recognized health properties. Fermentation performed with selected microbial strains or microbial consortia is the most promising way to reduce antinutritional factors of cereals and bran, while increasing their nutritional and functional properties. This work, developed within the BBI project INGREEN, was aimed to study the functional, nutritional and technological features of a pre-fermented ingredient obtained from the fermentation of a mixture of rye bran and wheat germ by a selected microbial consortium composed of yeasts (Kazachstania unispora and Kazachstania servazii) and lactic acid bacteria (Latilactobacillus curvatus) using as reference the unfermented mixture and the same mixture fermented by a baker’s yeast. The selected microbial consortium improved the complexity of the volatile molecules such as acids, alcohols and esters. A better retention of color parameters was maintained compared to the product fermented by a baker’s yeast. In addition, the fermentation by the selected consortium showed a significant increase in short chain fatty acids (more than 5-fold), antioxidant activity (22–24%), total phenol content (53–71%), bioactive peptides (39–52%), a reduction of 20–28% in phytic acid content and an increase in prebiotic activity not only compared to the unfermented product but also compared to the preferment obtained with a baker’s yeast. Overall, the fermentation by the selected microbial consortium can be considered a valuable way to valorize milling by-products and promote their exploitation as food ingredients.

Global warming and climate change are imminent threats to the future of humankind. A shift from the current reliance on fossil fuels to renewable energy is key to mitigating the impacts of climate change. Biological raw materials and residues can play a key role in this transition through technologies such as anaerobic digestion. However, biological raw materials must also meet other existing food, feed and material needs. Green biorefinery is an innovative concept in which green biomass, such as grass, is processed to obtain a variety of protein products, value-added co-products and renewable energy, helping to meet many needs from a single source. In this study, an analysis has been conducted to understand the renewable energy potential of green biorefinery by-products and residues, including grass whey, de-FOS whey and press cake. Using anaerobic digestion, the biogas and biomethane potential of these samples have been analyzed. An analysis of the fertiliser potential of the resulting digestate by-products has also been undertaken. All the feedstocks tested were found to be suitable for biogas production with grass whey, the most suitable candidate with a biogas and biomethane production yield of 895.8 and 544.6 L/kg VS, respectively, followed by de-FOS whey and press cake (597.4/520.3 L/kg VS and 510.7/300.3 L/kg VS, respectively). The results show considerable potential for utilizing biorefinery by-products as a source for renewable energy production, even after several value-added products have been co-produced.

The skin is the largest organ of the human body, composed of a diverse range of cell types, non-cellular components, and an extracellular matrix. With aging, molecules that are part of the extracellular matrix undergo qualitative and quantitative changes and the effects, such as a loss of skin firmness or wrinkles, can be visible. The changes caused by the aging process do not only affect the surface of the skin, but also extend to skin appendages such as hair follicles. In the present study, the ability of marine-derived saccharides, L-fucose and chondroitin sulphate disaccharide, to support skin and hair health and minimize the effects of intrinsic and extrinsic aging was investigated. The potential of the tested samples to prevent adverse changes in the skin and hair through stimulation of natural processes, cellular proliferation, and production of extracellular matrix components collagen, elastin, or glycosaminoglycans was investigated. The tested compounds, L-fucose and chondroitin sulphate disaccharide, supported skin and hair health, especially in terms of anti-aging effects. The obtained results indicate that both ingredients support and promote the proliferation of dermal fibroblasts and dermal papilla cells, provide cells with a supply of sulphated disaccharide GAG building blocks, increase ECM molecule production (collagen and elastin) by HDFa, and support the growth phase of the hair cycle (anagen).