Descrizione del progetto
Coltivare microalghe per un pianeta meno affamato
La popolazione mondiale è in aumento: dovrebbe raggiungere i 9,8 miliardi di persone entro il 2050 e una delle sfide più grandi è garantire che la produzione alimentare tenga il passo. Non sorprende che le aziende alimentari si stiano rivolgendo a metodi alternativi di produzione alimentare. Il progetto BioSolar Leaf, finanziato dall’UE, sta adottando un approccio naturale. Si tratta del primo sistema di coltivazione che sfrutta le microalghe e la luce del sole per produrre ingredienti alimentari naturali, sani e sostenibili. Questo impianto pilota produrrà additivi alimentari sostenibili e sani purificando al contempo l’aria, producendo ossigeno e rimuovendo l’anidride carbonica dall’ambiente circostante. I suoi ingredienti sono vegani, privi di OGM e ormoni, e la tecnologia permette una coltivazione sterile per eliminare la contaminazione esterna e produrre gli ingredienti più puliti e puri.
Obiettivo
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.
Campo scientifico
- 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
Programma(i)
Argomento(i)
Invito a presentare proposte
Vedi altri progetti per questo bandoBando secondario
H2020-SMEInst-2018-2020-1
Meccanismo di finanziamento
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1Coordinatore
CR77ER THORNTON HEATH
Regno Unito
L’organizzazione si è definita una PMI (piccola e media impresa) al momento della firma dell’accordo di sovvenzione.