On June 11th, a choral dialogue on the role of the sea in consumer choices, the blue economy, and health.
On June 11th, at the Leonardo da Vinci National Museum of Science and Technology, business, research, finance, and distribution will discuss the role of the sea in consumer choices, the blue economy, and health.
Milan, June 11, 2026 – The sea is more than just nature. It is economy, responsibility, health, innovation, and the future. This vision informed the fifth edition of Be Blue – The Sea Conference, the annual event promoted by Delicius to bring the sea back to the center of contemporary debate.
With the theme "The sea as a resource, growth, responsibility, and future," Be Blue 2026 offered a broad and transversal reflection on the value of the sea: not as a simple backdrop or source of products, but as a living and generative system, capable of influencing supply chains, consumption models, scientific research, and new corporate responsibilities.
The event took place at the Leonardo da Vinci National Museum of Science and Technology in Milan and brought together representatives from the worlds of business, finance, modern distribution, consumer analysis, and scientific research.
Launched in 2022, Be Blue is now a cultural and relational platform that each year explores a different dimension of the relationship between the sea, society, and the future. After years of addressing topics such as food security, the protection of marine ecosystems, sustainability partnerships, and the role of bluefish in longevity, the 2026 edition has further expanded the scope of its narrative, bringing together economics, responsibility, health, and innovation.
The proceedings were opened by Andrea Cabrini, director of Class CNBC, who led the audience through a series of discussions.
The first roundtable, "Companies and Responsibilities," featured Irene Rizzoli, CEO of Delicius, Stefano Pogutz of One Ocean Foundation, and Andrea Mottarelli, Country Head Italy at DWS – Deutsche Bank Italia. The focus was the relationship between business, supply chain, the blue economy, and responsible investment: a reflection on how the economy and marine conservation can move in the same direction.
This was followed by a session dedicated to "Science and Research," with presentations by Martina Cirlini, Professor and Researcher in Food Chemistry at the University of Parma, and Alessandra Dei Cas, Associate Professor of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases at the University of Parma and a member of the INRC board.
The focus was the nutritional value of oily fish, through scientific evidence related to vitamins, trace elements, and the role of research in raising food awareness. The results presented are a small part of Delicius' ongoing commitment to fostering research: partnerships with institutions such as INRC and the University of Parma provide the company with the scientific foundation and accurate tools to make a positive impact on the fishing industry.
The sea was then interpreted through consumer data with Matteo Bonù, Food Industry Leader at NielsenIQ, who provided an analysis of the economic impact of the "sea" in modern retail, the evolution of consumer behavior, and the first signs of emerging trends in the world of canned fish.
Then the round table "Habits and Revolution" compared industry and retail on the topic of seafood on the shelf. Guido Cristini, Professor of Agri-food Marketing Strategies at the University of Parma, also spoke with Maniele Tasca for the Selex Group, Giorgio Santambrogio for the VéGé Group, Giangiacomo Ibba for CRAI, and Andrea Maggioni, General Manager of Development at Delicius. The discussion gathered the different perspectives of retail experts on how the trends forecast by NielsenIQ and their amplifying effects can also impact the shelf, influencing assortments, language, consumption opportunities, and ways of interacting with consumers.
The meeting concluded with a presentation by Roberto Danovaro, Marine Biologist, dedicated to the sea as a largely unexplored system and a fundamental resource for the future.
These reflections were partly collected in Alici&Co – The Good Blue, the twelfth issue of the magazine of the same name, edited by Delicius, which every six months brings together original, insightful, and previously unpublished stories about the world of the sea.
"Promoting the sea means making it more understandable in everyday choices. Bluefish has significant nutritional value and can play a concrete role in people's diets, but to grow it requires shared effort. Collaboration with the world of research and distribution confirms every day how the exchange of different skills can generate new opportunities for the sector and a more informed relationship between people and the sea," said Irene Rizzoli, emphasizing how BeBlue was born precisely to bring this new perspective to life.
Be Blue 2026 thus confirms Delicius's desire to build a place of authoritative and ongoing dialogue, capable of uniting science, business, distribution, and society around a shared understanding: better understanding the sea is the first step to enhancing it, protecting it, and imagining new forms of responsible growth. This journey also becomes an opportunity to open new channels of collaboration and synergy with distribution, working together on sector culture, innovation, and consumer relations.
YouTube – BeBlue 2026: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDBrzOuF_XM
Press Info
Delicius - Studio Monika Carbonari
Giuseppe Rossetto
giuseppe.rossetto@studiomonikacarbonari.it
Matilde Inzoli Govoni
matilde.inzoli@studiomonikacarbonari.it
Ettore Pupo
ettore.pupo@studiomonikacarbonari.it
Tel. 049/775020
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