Descripción del proyecto
Cultivar microalgas para tener un planeta con menos hambre
La población mundial está aumentando y se espera que alcance los 9 800 millones de personas para 2050. Uno de los mayores retos es garantizar que la producción de alimentos mantenga el mismo ritmo. Como es de esperar, las empresas alimentarias están recurriendo a métodos alternativos de producción de alimentos. El proyecto BioSolar Leaf, financiado con fondos europeos, está adoptando un enfoque natural. Es el primer sistema de cultivo que aprovecha microalgas y luz solar para producir ingredientes alimentarios naturales, sostenibles y saludables. Esta planta piloto produce aditivos alimentarios saludables y sostenibles a la vez que purifica el aire, produce oxígeno y elimina dióxido de carbono del entorno circundante. Los ingredientes son veganos, están libres de hormonas y de organismos modificados genéticamente, y la tecnología permite el cultivo estéril para eliminar la contaminación externa y producir los ingredientes más limpios y puros.
Objetivo
The global population recently surpassed 7 billion and is projected to reach 9.8 billion by 2050. Food demand
is expected to increase to 3B tons in 2050, an increase of 43% compared to 2009. This in turn will have dramatic
consequences not only on humans’ health that will consume lower quality food produced by means of less capital-intensive
techniques, but also on the earth that will be strained by climate change, increasing drought frequency and severity, soil
depletion and disease, and water pollution. Ensuring sustainable sources of food in light of these issues is of critical
importance for society as well as the environment. Food companies are therefore turning to alternative methods of food
production to meet the growing demands and regularly use artificial food ingredients to provide necessary levels of protein
and nutrients. Arborea has developed the BioSolar Leaf, the world’s first cultivation system which
harnesses microalgae and sunlight to produce healthy, sustainable natural food ingredients. Microalgae has great potential
for cultivation as they contain lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, micronutrients, antioxidants and can be cultivated under harsh
climatic environments. The BioSolar Leaf cultivation system is the only sustainable ground-breaking algae cultivation system that
enables complete control of ideal culturing parameters for production of natural food ingredients. Arborea’s ingredients are
wholly vegan, GMO and hormone free, and the technology permits a sterile cultivation that eliminates external
contamination, to produce the cleanest and purest ingredients. During the feasibility assessment, Arborea will size the
market, establish a go-to-market strategy and a supply chain. BioSolar Leaf will then be validated in collaboration with food
producers to demonstrate the effectiveness of the technology.
Ámbito científico
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologyphycology
- engineering and technologychemical engineeringseparation technologies
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculescarbohydrates
- natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesenvironmental sciencespollution
- natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesatmospheric sciencesclimatologyclimatic changes
Programa(s)
Convocatoria de propuestas
Consulte otros proyectos de esta convocatoriaConvocatoria de subcontratación
H2020-SMEInst-2018-2020-1
Régimen de financiación
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1Coordinador
CR77ER THORNTON HEATH
Reino Unido
Organización definida por ella misma como pequeña y mediana empresa (pyme) en el momento de la firma del acuerdo de subvención.