Vigo is hosting the international conference Lipids in the Ocean 2026 from 15 to 17 June, a leading scientific meeting that brings together more than 120 national and international specialists to share the latest advances in the study of marine lipids and their applications in areas such as health, nutrition, aquaculture and sustainability.
The conference is organised by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) through the Marine Products Chemistry Group of the Institute of Marine Research (IIM-CSIC) and the Sustainable Marine Aquaculture and Biotechnology group of the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC), consolidating Vigo as an international meeting point for cutting-edge marine research.
Marine lipids, especially Omega-3 fatty acids such as EPA and DHA, play a fundamental role in human health and are attracting growing scientific interest due to their applications in nutrition, well-being and sustainable food production. The conference will address the whole knowledge chain associated with these compounds, from ecological processes in marine ecosystems to their industrial valorisation and their impact on society.
The scientific programme is structured around five major thematic areas: lipid biomarkers in marine ecosystems, the present and future of marine lipids in aquaculture, their role in nutrition and health, the development of blue technologies for industrial valorisation, and the analytical challenges associated with the characterisation of lipids and lipidomes.
The conference will include renowned specialists from universities, research centres and companies in different countries, who will share research related to marine ecology, food webs, sustainable food, biotechnology, nutrition and the development of new tools for the study and responsible use of marine resources.
The institutional opening event will be held on 14 June in Vigo with the participation of institutional and scientific representatives, including Abel Caballero, mayor of Vigo; Carmen González Sotelo, CSIC institutional delegate in Galicia; Beatriz Novoa, director of IIM-CSIC; and Isabel Medina and Santiago Aubourg, organisers of the meeting.
The holding of Lipids in the Ocean 2026 strengthens IIM-CSIC’s role as an international benchmark in marine research and highlights the importance of scientific collaboration in advancing knowledge of the oceans and developing innovative solutions that contribute to healthier food, more sustainable aquaculture and a knowledge-based blue economy.
A meeting that connects science, innovation and society to continue exploring the potential of marine resources and their contribution to the major global challenges of the present and the future.
All information about the programme and registration process is available at:
