Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English en
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS

Bringing Innovation and Growth to macroALGAE production systems

Project description

Innovative, sustainable macroalgae cultivation in Europe

Macroalgae biomass (seaweed) is abundant and renewable, serving as a sustainable ingredient for bio-based industries. However, European production relies mostly on wild harvesting. To meet rising demand and quality standards, new, cost-effective cultivation methods and advanced monitoring technologies are needed to ensure sustainability and high-quality biomass. The EU-funded BIG-ALGAE project aims to improve the efficiency and sustainability of macroalgae cultivation in Europe. It will develop four solutions for five native species, including offshore cultivation, land-based systems, and urban solutions for non-coastal areas. The project will also create eight new algae-based products for food, feed, cosmetics, textiles, and materials. Additionally, it will develop advanced sensing technologies and digital decision support tools to enhance efficiency in macroalgae aquaculture.

Objective

Macroalgae biomass holds great potential for becoming a reference source of sustainable ingredients for a broad range of bio-based industries. However, macroalgae production in Europe still relies mostly on harvesting from the wild, with limited potential for supplying a growing demand while meeting the required quality standards of the applications (e.g. food, feed). For European algal business to thrive, new macroalgae cultivation solutions need to arise. Science-backed cost-efficient and scalable cultivation solutions and technologies, supported by advanced monitoring and digitalisation of processes, are key for enabling the implementation of a sustainable macroalgae cultivation and processing industry, ensuring ecosystems preservation and consistently producing high-quality biomass.
BIG-ALGAE aims to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of macroalgae cultivation technologies and practices, suiting them for replication in Europe, while developing and upscaling biomass valorisation processes and creating new added-value products, enabling businesses cases. BIG-ALGAE will deliver 4 cultivation solutions suited for 5 native macroalgae species, including offshore cultivation, land-based recirculating aquaculture systems, integration with fish aquaculture and urban solutions for non-coastal regions. BIG-ALGAE will develop 8 new algae-based products from improved biorefinery processes for 5 sectors: food, feed, cosmetics, textiles and materials. Advanced sensoring, real-time monitoring and digital decision support tools developed in BIG-ALGAE will be delivered as 2 additional products, for supporting efficiency and digitalization of the macroalgae aquaculture sector.
Led by the industry and backed up by institutes and universities of excellence, from Europe and Asia, BIG-ALGAE brings together primary producers, technology developers, researchers and end-users of algal ingredients, jointly working for the development of sustainable macroalgae-based value chains.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

Keywords

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Funding Scheme

HORIZON-JU-IA - HORIZON JU Innovation Actions

See all projects funded under this funding scheme

Call for proposal

(opens in new window) HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025

See all projects funded under this call

Coordinator

A4F ALGA FUEL SA
Net EU contribution
€ 716 408,25
Address
ESTRADA DO PACO DO LUMIAR CAMPUS DO LUMIAR EDIFICIO E R/C
1649 038 Lisboa
Portugal
SME
Yes
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Links
Total cost
€ 1 194 013,75

Participants (18)

Partners (1)