Jellyfish, also known as medusae, are among the oldest living creatures on earth and could offer a surprising answer to the challenges of global food security. These fascinating sea creatures not only provide valuable proteins, essential fatty acids and vitamins, but also require neither fresh water nor agricultural land for their cultivation. Some species, such as the mangrove jellyfish Cassiopea andromeda, can even produce marine protein with the help of sunlight thanks to photosynthetically active endosymbionts. This food4future project is investigating how jellyfish can be cultivated in modular recirculating aquaculture systems. These closed systems are resource-efficient, sustainable and open up a wide range of potential applications - from food to food supplements and cosmetic products. During the first project funding phase, we selected Cassiopea andromeda as a model organism and laid important foundations for the cultivation of jellyfish in urban, saline indoor cultivation systems. Through the targeted control of environmental parameters such as light, temperature and nutrient supply, the production of valuable ingredients such as carotenoids, omega-3 fatty acids and proteins could be increased. The first protocols for the indoor cultivation of this jellyfish species have also been developed.

In the current funding phase, we are focusing on scaling up the cultivation of jellyfish and further expanding their potential uses. Particular emphasis is being placed on optimizing growth conditions in order to further improve biomass production and ingredient profiles. At the same time, work is being carried out on integrating residual material flows into the jellyfish cultivation system in order to reduce resource consumption and promote circular production. In addition, the ZMT team is researching the identification of jellyfish species with a high content of health-promoting ingredients for use in food, food supplements and cosmetics. The integration of co-cultivation approaches such as jellyfish together with other marine organisms, such as macroalgae or shrimp, also opens up new possibilities for conserving resources. In this way, synergies can be exploited and the environmental impact further reduced.

Jellyfish offer an extraordinary opportunity to strengthen a safe and sustainable food supply. They can be established as an alternative, resource-saving food source. Our aim is not only to create new types of food and products, but also to make a decisive contribution to the transformation of agricultural systems. This food4future project combines state-of-the-art technologies with practice-oriented innovation and thrives on close cooperation with partners from science and industry. The focus is on the efficient indoor cultivation of macro- and micronutrients, which serves as the basis for future-oriented applications in nutrition and beyond.

Text: H. Kühnhold, ZMT