The AORA Marine Microbiome Roadmap was launched in Brussels on 5 February 2020 at a meeting of the Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance (AORA) Marine Microbiome group.
The Roadmap state: 'We are on the threshold of a new and exciting era of discovery in the oceans that will shape the development of human endeavours for decades to come. New insights on the significance of the microscopic scale of ocean life have shown this level affects almost every aspect of our lives (health, food, industry, ecosystems). For society’s future, we need to investigate the science of marine microbiomes, integrate the novel technologies discovered and initiate policies that foster truly sustainable marine development ... To ensure early coordination and interoperability guided by a shared vision, we need to bring together science, industry and policy makers to advance the “Next Great Exploration of the Oceans'.
The Roadmap is the result of an international cooperative effort between Canada, the European Union, and the US, produced within the AORA framework and consistent with the Galway Statement on Atlantic Ocean Cooperation.
Within the marine microbiome Roadmap, three thematic pillars have been identified by AORA scientists and policy makers, all supported with underlying cross-cutting elements:
- Environment and Climate
- Food Value Chain
- Biodiscovery
