Descripción del proyecto
El megapotencial de las microalgas para mejorar la nutrición
Las microalgas, microorganismos fotosintéticos unicelulares, son una fuente sumamente prometedora de biomasa acuática, útil en aplicaciones de una amplia gama de sectores, incluidos los de la alimentación y el bienestar. A pesar de sus ventajas, no hay un centro de producción industrial a gran escala, y solo se producen unas pocas especies a nivel mundial. Con esto en mente, el proyecto SCALE, financiado con fondos europeos, construirá y dirigirá una planta insignia, la primera de su tipo, que produzca ingredientes con alto valor nutricional derivados de diversas microalgas sin aprovechar para los sectores de la alimentación, los complementos alimenticios, los piensos y la cosmética. Las operaciones se llevarán a cabo con procesos económicamente sólidos y de una forma respetuosa con el medio ambiente. Concretamente, SCALE desarrollará una cadena de valor integrada desde la producción de las microalgas y la extracción de ingredientes de alto valor de los compuestos bioactivos hasta aplicaciones finales en alimentos, piensos y cosmética.
Objetivo
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.
Ámbito científico
Palabras clave
Programa(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)
Régimen de financiación
IA - Innovation actionCoordinador
34670 Baillargues
Francia
Organización definida por ella misma como pequeña y mediana empresa (pyme) en el momento de la firma del acuerdo de subvención.