Periodic Reporting for period 1 - CIRCALGAE (CIRCular valorisation of industrial ALGAE waste streams into high-value products to foster future sustainable blue biorefineries in Europe)
Période du rapport: 2022-10-01 au 2024-03-31
The CIRCALGAE project aims to revolutionize the blue bioeconomy by fully utilizing the underexploited biomass from macro- and microalgae industries. Currently, a significant portion of algae biomass is wasted, with only 15-30% being used in high-value products like phycocolloids. The remaining biomass is typically discarded, representing a lost opportunity for creating valuable products.
CIRCALGAE addresses this challenge by applying a cascade biorefinery concept to transform these residuals into valuable ingredients for the food, feed, and cosmetic industries. The project leverages efficient water-based technologies developed in previous EU-funded projects to process the biomass on a pilot and industrial scale, aiming to produce algae-derived ingredients in significant quantities.
The project’s primary objectives are to:
1. Develop three blue biorefinery schemes to process hundreds of kilograms of algae waste streams.
2. Create 12 demonstrator products, including vegan foods, protein-rich feeds, and cosmetics.
3. Validate two final products for market readiness and consumer acceptance.
CIRCALGAE will connect industry partners with research and technology organizations (RTOs) and SMEs to validate the health benefits, regulatory compliance, and environmental impact of these new products. This collaborative approach aims to reshape the marine industrial network, promoting co-creation and co-learning.
The project aligns with the European Green Deal and Farm2Fork strategies, supporting the development of a sustainable blue bioeconomy. By transforming algae residues into cost-effective and high-value products, CIRCALGAE will enhance the economic viability of algae industries, reduce waste, and contribute to a circular economy.
Overall, CIRCALGAE seeks to create a novel biorefinery model that fully exploits algae biomass, fostering a more sustainable and economically viable blue bioeconomy in Europe.
CIRCALGAE addresses this challenge by applying a cascade biorefinery concept to transform these residuals into valuable ingredients for the food, feed, and cosmetic industries. The project leverages efficient water-based technologies developed in previous EU-funded projects to process the biomass on a pilot and industrial scale, aiming to produce algae-derived ingredients in significant quantities.
The project’s primary objectives are to:
1. Develop three blue biorefinery schemes to process hundreds of kilograms of algae waste streams.
2. Create 12 demonstrator products, including vegan foods, protein-rich feeds, and cosmetics.
3. Validate two final products for market readiness and consumer acceptance.
CIRCALGAE will connect industry partners with research and technology organizations (RTOs) and SMEs to validate the health benefits, regulatory compliance, and environmental impact of these new products. This collaborative approach aims to reshape the marine industrial network, promoting co-creation and co-learning.
The project aligns with the European Green Deal and Farm2Fork strategies, supporting the development of a sustainable blue bioeconomy. By transforming algae residues into cost-effective and high-value products, CIRCALGAE will enhance the economic viability of algae industries, reduce waste, and contribute to a circular economy.
Overall, CIRCALGAE seeks to create a novel biorefinery model that fully exploits algae biomass, fostering a more sustainable and economically viable blue bioeconomy in Europe.
During the first 18 months of the CIRCALGAE project, significant progress has been made across multiple tasks. Task 1.1 produced a comprehensive report on algae utilization in Europe, highlighting production, applications, and trends. Tasks 1.2 and 1.3 focused on optimizing algae cultivation and biorefinery processes, leading to high biomass yields and compositional analysis of seasonal and regional algae. Task 2.1 developed extraction strategies for proteins and bioactives from microalgae, with protocols transferred for scale-up in Task 2.3 while alternative extraction methods were explored for macroalgae. Despite some delays due to biomass availability, bioactivity testing and characterization continued. WP3 aimed to characterize bioactive ingredients and develop food, feed, and cosmetic products, with early progress prompting further analysis of legal requirements. Task 5.1 assessed the market and performed a gap analysis, while Task 5.2 began developing a business plan for the CIRCALGAE biorefinery, identifying unique selling points and conducting revenue analysis, connecting stakeholders in the process.
In the first 18 months, the CIRCALGAE project has made significant progress, including detailed reports on algae utilization in Europe, advancements in algae cultivation and processing for biorefinery, and the development of innovative extraction processes. However, further data collection on seasonal variations, finalizing extraction methods, and completing business and LCA/LCC analyses are needed to fully realize the project's potential. The project's outcomes support EU strategies for a circular economy, sustainable food systems, and blue economy innovation. Key policy recommendations include developing regulations for food ingredients from industrial side streams, establishing a framework for new feed ingredients, supporting green extraction technologies, standardizing algae-derived products, and promoting cross-sector collaboration. These steps are crucial for leveraging algae biorefineries to meet EU sustainability goals.