On 9 April 2025, the final conference of the GenB project took place in Brussels, gathering people from all over Europe. Among the numerous speakers was Alessia Careccia, our newly appointed Young Oceans Advocate, who was invited to represent the Bluerev project and participate in a diverse panel discussion alongside EU representatives and young professionals, focusing on the future of sustainable and circular bioeconomy education. The conversation centered on how to inspire and engage young people in the bioeconomy: Alessia emphasized the need to explain to young people the tangible applications of the blue bioeconomy in terms of products, innovative food and waste valorization and to show them real career paths in the field. She also shared her personal journey with the Bluerev project, which provided her the unique opportunity to become a Young Ocean Advocate. Through this role, Alessia became part of the Youth4OceanForum, a dynamic network that empowers students, professionals, and young ocean enthusiasts to advocate for ocean conservation and sustainability.

When asked how to ensure that young voices caring about the bioeconomy sector are truly heard and acted upon, Alessia underscored the importance of supporting youth-led initiatives and organizations. She highlighted the need to provide young people with the necessary knowledge and skills to actively participate in the bioeconomy debate. This, she noted, could be achieved through targeted training programmes and learning opportunities, many of which are part of the Bluerev support tool. The conference served as an inspiring platform for the next generation of environmental advocates and bioeconomy and blue bioeconomy leaders, highlighting the vital role of education in shaping a sustainable future. It also underscored the importance of networking and sharing experiences across diverse realities: young people can benefit a lot from meaningful exchanges, which can help them to gain new perspectives, broaden their horizons, and strengthen their capacity to contribute to sustainable development.