Project description
The mega potential of microalgae to improve nutrition
Microalgae, unicellular photosynthetic microorganisms, are a highly promising source of aquatic biomass – useful in applications in a wide range of fields, including nutrition and well-being. Despite the advantages, there is no large-scale industrial production site. Only a few species are produced globally. With this in mind, the EU-funded SCALE project will build and operate a first-of-its-kind flagship plant producing ingredients with high nutritional value derived from untapped microalgae diversity, for food, food supplements, feed and cosmetics sectors. The operations will be carried out with economically sound processes and in an environmentally friendly way. Specifically, SCALE will develop an integrated value chain from microalgae production and high-value ingredients extraction of bioactive compounds to end-use applications for food, feed and cosmetics.
Objective
The current food system is seriously challenged by evolving consumers needs and by the rapid world population growth, which could peak to 9.7 billion people in 2060. To provide food system with high nutritional value ingredients, it becomes of paramount important to harness the potential of the oceans in an environmentally responsible manner. Microalgae are a highly promising source of aquatic biomasses and find applications in a wide range of fields, including nutrition and well-being. Currently, no large-scale industrial production site provides access to the exceptional biodiversity of microalgae in an efficient way. Only a few species are produced globally with dedicated production sites. For instance, 70% of the market is currently represented by Spirulina and Chlorella.
The SCALE project strives to build and operate a first of its kind Flagship plant producing ingredients with high nutritional value derived from the untapped microalgae diversity, for food, food supplements, feed and cosmetics sectors, through economically-sound processes and in an environmentally friendly way. This Flagship project is based on the unique and cutting-edge CAMARGUE photobioreactor technology developed and patented by Microphyt, a French leading SME in microalgae-based natural solutions for nutrition and well-being. The CAMARGUE technology currently operating and running at demo plant offers both high differentiation potential and the ability to supply natural active ingredients in an industrial and standardized way. SCALE will transfer this technology from the demo plant to the industrial Flagship plant able to produce large-scale volumes of high-value ingredients of unique microalgae species that cannot be supplied from other production technologies.
To do so, SCALE project gathers 12 key EU and international partners in an integrated value chain from microalgae production to high value ingredients extraction of bioactives compounds and end-use applications in food, food supplements, feed, and cosmetic domains.
Fields of science
Keywords
Programme(s)
- H2020-EU.3.2. - SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine, maritime and inland water research, and the bioeconomy Main Programme
- H2020-EU.2.1.4. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies – Biotechnology
- H2020-EU.3.2.6. - Bio-based Industries Joint Technology Initiative (BBI-JTI)
Topic(s)
Funding Scheme
IA - Innovation actionCoordinator
34670 Baillargues
France
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.