BIOSEA project

¨Innovative cost-effective technology for maximizing aquatic biomass-based molecules for food, feed and cosmetic applications¨

OBJECTIVES

The overall objective of BIOSEA is the development and validation of innovative, competitive and cost-effective upstream and downstream processes for the cultivation of 3 microalgae (Spirulina platensis, Isochrysis galbana and Nannochloropsis sp.), and 2 macroalgae (Ulva ohnoi and Saccharina latissima) to produce and extract at least 6 high value active principles at low cost (up to 55% less than with current processes) to be used in food, feed and cosmetic/personal care as high-added value products.

The innovation will be on applying them on algae or in combination with other techniques for recovery of multiple compounds from the same feedstock, which will require technological adjustment & optimizations.

BIOSEA process will be effective and environmental friendly and the compounds will be obtained at low cost and will be used in food, feed and cosmetic/personal care markets. By this way, the industrialization of the process could be addressed once the project ends.

DEVELOPMENT

TIMETABLE

Total project duration: 36 months. 1^st of June 2017- 31^st of May 2020

WP1 CULTIVATION OF ALGAE

Optimized algae cultivation and biomass production at small scale

Macroalgae :

Ulva ohoi and Saccharina spp. pilot scale cultivation

Ulva ohnoi outdoor tanks cage cultivation Ulva ohnoi indoor photobioreactors cultivation Sacharinna spp. open sea cultivation

Microalgae:

Spirulina platensis and Nannochloropsis sp. pilot scale cultivation

Spirulina platensis indoor photobioreactors cultivation Nannochloropsis spp. indoor MUTL cultivation

WP2 EXTRACTION AND PURIFICATION OF ACTIVE PRINCIPLES

Tailored extraction of active compounds through cascading approach was developed for each envisaged algae strains, following the ¨zero waste¨ concept.

WP3 EVALUATION OF ACTIVE PRINCIPLES AND FORMULATION

Extracts are subjected to characterization tests for the mentioned applications.

Complete validation of suitability of ingredients in preliminary food, feed and cosmetic formulations.

Veggie burger with algae sourced ingredients inclusion

Skin care formulation and encapsulation

Fish nutrition experiments with algae inclusion in feed

Piglet feed pellet with algae inclusion

WP4 VALIDATION OF FINAL APPLICATION PRODUCTS

Working schemes developed based on the results obtained in WP3 and food and feed formulation matrices proposed.

Veggie burger:

(left) RAW – (right) FRIED

Cosmetics algae caviar

Fish experiments and formulation

Piglet feed pellet

WP5 LCA AND IMPACT ASSESSMENT

LCA and SLCA are under development for the definition of the environmental and social impact of the BIOSEA process.

WP6 DISSEMINATION & EXPLOITATION

Dissemination of the project objectives in events, magazines, fairs.

More details on the BIOSEA newsletter

For more information on news and events where the project results are presented consult the calendar and news section.

WP7 PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Project Management Handbook as guidance for a good communication and project execution flow.

PARTNERS

For achieving the objectives, BIOSEA consortium consists of specialists in specific area/s or discipline/s involved in the project (IGV and CTAQUA in Biological Sciences and Biotechnology; VITO and FEYECON in Chemical Science and Engineering; CNTA, BIOPOLIS, DIBAQ, SORIA NATURAL and CPCFEED in Food/Feed Technology; VLCI and HENKEL in Cosmetic Science; AITEX in Materials Science and TABU in Environmental Science).