Periodic Reporting for period 3 - ALEHOOP (Biorefineries for the valorisation of macroalgal residual biomass and legume processing by-products to obtain new protein value chains for high-value food and feed applications)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2023-06-01 do 2025-02-28
ALEHOOP project demonstrates at pilot scale the potential of sustainable macroalgae and legume-based biorefineries for obtaining low-cost dietary proteins from algal and plant residual biomass, validating their use to meet food and feed industry requirements. Consumers demand affordable functional proteins from alternative sources, while industry seeks bio-based, low-cost ingredients with better performance and higher sustainability.
Proteins and amino acids are essential building blocks of life due to their nutritional and physiological properties. Beyond their biofunctionality, they influence food appearance, texture and stability thanks to technofunctional traits such as solubility, foaming, emulsification and gelation. Global population growth, rising incomes, urbanisation and ageing populations are intensifying protein demand. Current needs for 7.3 billion people reach 202 million tonnes annually. While 58% comes from plants (soy, cereals, potatoes), the rest derives from meat, fish, dairy and eggs. Growing meat consumption further increases demand for animal feed proteins. Europe depends heavily on imports, especially over 30 Mt of soy annually from the Americas, covering 95% of EU needs. This dependency raises economic, environmental and food security concerns. New alternative protein sources are therefore required. ALEHOOP explores green macroalgal blooms, brown seaweed by-products and legume residues (peas, lupins, beans, lentils) as sustainable protein alternatives for feed (green algae) and food (brown algae, legumes). These biomass sources are low-cost, underexploited and non-competitive with traditional crops.Big food brands are increasingly adopting protein substitutes, creating business opportunities. The global alternative protein market was valued at $8.26 billion in 2017, with a projected CAGR of 7.4% (2018–2023), driven by health concerns, nutritional awareness and weight management trends. ALEHOOP targets the development of biofunctional and technological proteins from algal and legume by-products for high-end markets, contributing to sustainable and affordable protein supply chains in Europe.
Conclusions of the action:
ALEHOOP proved the technical feasibility of producing high-quality proteins from red and green macroalgae and legume by-products via optimised, eco-designed biorefineries. Red seaweed showed strong potential thanks to higher protein content and lower processing demands compared to brown algae. Legume-based biorefineries achieved protein levels above 80% with excellent techno-functional performance, notably in lupin extracts after reducing alkaloid bitterness.
The eco-designed ALEHOOP processes cut CO2 emissions by up to 52%, lowered costs, and outperformed conventional protein sources environmentally. Although further scaling and by-product valorisation are needed for full market competitiveness, the project establishes a solid basis for industrial uptake, enhancing Europe’s protein autonomy, supporting sustainable aquaculture and livestock feed, and generating green jobs in regional economies.
Proteins and amino acids are essential building blocks of life due to their nutritional and physiological properties. Beyond their biofunctionality, they influence food appearance, texture and stability thanks to technofunctional traits such as solubility, foaming, emulsification and gelation. Global population growth, rising incomes, urbanisation and ageing populations are intensifying protein demand. Current needs for 7.3 billion people reach 202 million tonnes annually. While 58% comes from plants (soy, cereals, potatoes), the rest derives from meat, fish, dairy and eggs. Growing meat consumption further increases demand for animal feed proteins. Europe depends heavily on imports, especially over 30 Mt of soy annually from the Americas, covering 95% of EU needs. This dependency raises economic, environmental and food security concerns. New alternative protein sources are therefore required. ALEHOOP explores green macroalgal blooms, brown seaweed by-products and legume residues (peas, lupins, beans, lentils) as sustainable protein alternatives for feed (green algae) and food (brown algae, legumes). These biomass sources are low-cost, underexploited and non-competitive with traditional crops.Big food brands are increasingly adopting protein substitutes, creating business opportunities. The global alternative protein market was valued at $8.26 billion in 2017, with a projected CAGR of 7.4% (2018–2023), driven by health concerns, nutritional awareness and weight management trends. ALEHOOP targets the development of biofunctional and technological proteins from algal and legume by-products for high-end markets, contributing to sustainable and affordable protein supply chains in Europe.
Conclusions of the action:
ALEHOOP proved the technical feasibility of producing high-quality proteins from red and green macroalgae and legume by-products via optimised, eco-designed biorefineries. Red seaweed showed strong potential thanks to higher protein content and lower processing demands compared to brown algae. Legume-based biorefineries achieved protein levels above 80% with excellent techno-functional performance, notably in lupin extracts after reducing alkaloid bitterness.
The eco-designed ALEHOOP processes cut CO2 emissions by up to 52%, lowered costs, and outperformed conventional protein sources environmentally. Although further scaling and by-product valorisation are needed for full market competitiveness, the project establishes a solid basis for industrial uptake, enhancing Europe’s protein autonomy, supporting sustainable aquaculture and livestock feed, and generating green jobs in regional economies.
In the first stage of ALEHOOP, partners focused on obtaining raw material (green and brown algae, legumes), ensuring year-round feedstock supply. The extraction process from macroalgae and legumes was optimised. A protocol for protein extraction from legume by-products was established and scaled up from 100 g to 1 kg. Several conditions were tested to improve yield, and raw materials were characterised nutritionally, physicochemically and toxicologically. Main requirements for end users were defined, and the life cycle methodology for evaluating environmental, economic and social impacts was set.
In the second stage, feedstock availability and quality were quantified and analysed. Based on their properties, the most suitable materials for protein extraction were selected. Processes were optimised to improve protein concentration and reduce salt content. End-user requirements were updated and scaling-up proposed, considering sustainability and cost factors. Legal requirements were revised, and standardisation advanced toward producing final standards in RP3. First validation trials showed promising results.
ALEHOOP completed its planned developments, including lab optimisation and pilot-scale production of proteins from legumes, green and red algae. Lupin and lentil proteins were validated for food uses, while macroalgae proteins showed potential in aquaculture and pig feed, though limited benefits in poultry. Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment confirmed environmental advantages and economic potential at larger scales (up to 1,000 t/year). Safety, toxicology and regulatory checks confirmed EU compliance. Dissemination goals were exceeded, with strong participation in standardisation (CEN/TC 454). Results are ready for exploitation through industrial partnerships, further scale-up and by-product valorisation, strengthening Europe’s bio-based protein chain.
In the second stage, feedstock availability and quality were quantified and analysed. Based on their properties, the most suitable materials for protein extraction were selected. Processes were optimised to improve protein concentration and reduce salt content. End-user requirements were updated and scaling-up proposed, considering sustainability and cost factors. Legal requirements were revised, and standardisation advanced toward producing final standards in RP3. First validation trials showed promising results.
ALEHOOP completed its planned developments, including lab optimisation and pilot-scale production of proteins from legumes, green and red algae. Lupin and lentil proteins were validated for food uses, while macroalgae proteins showed potential in aquaculture and pig feed, though limited benefits in poultry. Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment confirmed environmental advantages and economic potential at larger scales (up to 1,000 t/year). Safety, toxicology and regulatory checks confirmed EU compliance. Dissemination goals were exceeded, with strong participation in standardisation (CEN/TC 454). Results are ready for exploitation through industrial partnerships, further scale-up and by-product valorisation, strengthening Europe’s bio-based protein chain.
ALEHOOP builds three sector interconnections: AGROFOOD (legume & seaweed processors) ↔ FUNCTIONAL PROTEIN PRODUCERS; PRODUCERS ↔ FUNCTIONAL FOOD INDUSTRY; PRODUCERS ↔ ANIMAL FEED PRODUCERS. It creates 2 value chains in the GREEN MACROALGA line, 6 in BROWN MACROALGA, and 6 in LEGUME BY-PRODUCT. ALEHOOP proteins enable six food/beverage products (healthy snack bars, smoothfood, meat analogues, sports drinks, meal-replacement shakes and marmalades) and two animal-feed products.
The project reduces Europe’s dependence on imported proteins by using low-cost local biomass—improving raw-material security and compatible with organic production—enabling partial replacement of fishmeal with aquatic proteins for cheaper, sustainable feeds and supporting aquaculture that relieves pressure on wild stocks. Technologies allow industry diversification and improved profitability.
ALEHOOP secures jobs across the chain—from biomass collection and biorefinery operations to biotech roles—and strengthens regional economies via local biorefineries using abundant European biomass.
The project demonstrated red and green macroalgae and legume by-products as viable protein sources: legume extracts >80% protein; red algae >40%, with strong techno-functional properties (notably lupin after bitterness reduction). In feed, macroalgae proteins improved health in fish and early-life pigs, with limited effects in poultry and fattening pigs.
Eco-designed processes cut CO2 emissions by 20–52% vs lab scale and, with by-product valorisation at larger scales (up to 1,000 t/year), promise economic competitiveness; production-cost reductions of up to 95% were reported. ALEHOOP meets EU safety, toxicology and regulatory requirements, contributed to CEN/TC 454 standardisation, met dissemination KPIs, and paves the way for industrial uptake and replication of sustainable protein production in Europe. Results support EU competitiveness and the transition to a bio-based society and regional resilience.
The project reduces Europe’s dependence on imported proteins by using low-cost local biomass—improving raw-material security and compatible with organic production—enabling partial replacement of fishmeal with aquatic proteins for cheaper, sustainable feeds and supporting aquaculture that relieves pressure on wild stocks. Technologies allow industry diversification and improved profitability.
ALEHOOP secures jobs across the chain—from biomass collection and biorefinery operations to biotech roles—and strengthens regional economies via local biorefineries using abundant European biomass.
The project demonstrated red and green macroalgae and legume by-products as viable protein sources: legume extracts >80% protein; red algae >40%, with strong techno-functional properties (notably lupin after bitterness reduction). In feed, macroalgae proteins improved health in fish and early-life pigs, with limited effects in poultry and fattening pigs.
Eco-designed processes cut CO2 emissions by 20–52% vs lab scale and, with by-product valorisation at larger scales (up to 1,000 t/year), promise economic competitiveness; production-cost reductions of up to 95% were reported. ALEHOOP meets EU safety, toxicology and regulatory requirements, contributed to CEN/TC 454 standardisation, met dissemination KPIs, and paves the way for industrial uptake and replication of sustainable protein production in Europe. Results support EU competitiveness and the transition to a bio-based society and regional resilience.