AlgaHealth: novel cultivation technologies of unique microalgae strains for high quality of fucoxanthin-based products.

Project Information

AlgaHealth

Grant agreement ID: 877422

DOI

10.3030/877422

Project closed

EC signature date 19 July 2019

Start date 1 July 2019

End date 30 November 2019

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs

Total cost

€ 71 429,00

EU contribution

€ 50 000,00

Coordinated by

ALGAHEALTH (AH) Ltd
Israel

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - AlgaHealth (AlgaHealth: novel cultivation technologies of unique microalgae strains for high quality of fucoxanthin-based products.)

Reporting period: 2019-07-01 to 2019-11-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The application of nutraceutical fucoxanthin products from macroalgae (seaweed) harvested from the oceans is bottlenecked by high production costs and will become redundant due to low purity, seasonal (intermittent) production, contamination and environmental concerns of the effects on local biodiversity. To overcome these barriers, AlgaHealth has developed a smart, sustainable and cost-effective solution of using microalgae for production of high-quality fucoxanthin, which AlgaHeath achieves through its innovative and patented approach. The key’s aspects of AlgaHealth technology rely on their unique proprietary microalgae strain and archetypal fucoxanthin producer Isochrysis sp., smart agro-physiological manipulations and fucoxanthin production using green solvents such as SCF-CO2 and mild organic solvents such as ethanol. AlgaHealth approach also adopts a zero-waste philosophy with the use of and recycling of benign saline (salt) water as a green medium for algae cultivation.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

During the feasibility assessment AlgaHealth has completed a full analysis of the technical and business potential of its fucoxanthin microalgae extracts. Throughout the project, AlgaHealth has greatly expanded their knowledge regarding the technical objectives, potential market targets, customer segments and regulatory approval required for European market launch. A sound business model and commercialisation strategy was established for the anticipated market launch. This has been highly valuable in defining the remaining technical activities to perform to ensure all MVP requirements are fulfilled.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

At the very state-of-the-art, nutraceuticals have been highlighted as a new paradigm of proactive and natural medicine which shades the frontier between pharmaceuticals and food. Fucoxanthin is a light‐harvesting non-toxic carotenoid pigment found in macroalgae and microalgae with recognised nutraceutical anti-obesity and antidiabetic effects, with evidence that it supports weight loss by speeding up metabolism and stimulating the body’s natural biochemical ability to burn fat. However, as market needs grow, its conventional production by seaweed will become redundant as the method is unsustainable, expensive and seasonal (intermittent). AlgaHealth’s solution using microalgae, however in the microalgae field there is no one size fits all. To be successful, one must optimize and perfectly balance three corners of a “magic triangle”: (1) algae species; (2) cultivation technology/systems and; (3) geographic location. To overcome current barriers and achieve the complete ‘magic triangle’, AlgaHealth has developed an innovative approach in each step (microalgae strain geographical selection, cultivation and green/benign upstream and downstream processing) of the fucoxanthin production line. ThereforAlgaHealth is uniquely placed in the nutraceutical and food supplement market to replace macroalgae(seaweed) production with their sustainable, clean, green and cost effect innovation.

AlgaHealth