The Genus Haslea, New marine resources for blue biotechnology and Aquaculture

Objective

The GHaNA project aims to explore and characterize a new marine bioresource, for blue biotechnology applications in aquaculture, cosmetics and possibly food and health industry. The project will determine the biological and chemical diversity of Haslea diatoms to develop mass-scale production for viable industrial applications by maximising biomass production and associated high-value compound production, including terpenoids, marennine-like pigments, lipids and silica skeletons. The genus Haslea species type H. ostrearia, produces marennine, a water-soluble blue pigment used for greening oysters in Western France, which is also a bioactive molecule. Haslea diatoms have thus a high potential for use in (1) existing oyster farming, (2) production of pigments and bioactive compounds with natural antibacterial properties, (3) application as a colouring agent within industry, and (4) use of silica skeletons as inorganic “biocharges” in the formulation of new elastomeric materials. This will be achieved through fundamental and applied-oriented research to isolate fast- growing strains of Haslea, optimising their growth environment to increase marennine and other high-value compound productivity; to develop blue biotechnology specifically applied to benthic microalgae (biorefinery approach, processes); and to develop industrial exploitation of colouring and bioactive compounds through commercial activities of aquaculture, food, cosmetics and health.

Field of science

/agricultural sciences/agricultural biotechnology/biomass
/social sciences/economics and business/economics/production economics
/natural sciences/biological sciences/biochemistry/biomolecules/carbohydrates
/agricultural sciences/agriculture, forestry, and fisheries/fisheries
/natural sciences/physical sciences/optics/microscopy/electron microscopy
/engineering and technology/materials engineering/colors
/natural sciences/biological sciences/zoology/invertebrate zoology
/agricultural sciences/animal and dairy science
/natural sciences/biological sciences/biochemistry/biomolecules/lipids

Funding Scheme

MSCA-RISE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (RISE)

Coordinator

UNIVERSITE DU MANS

Address

Avenue Olivier Messiaen
72085 Le Mans
France

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

EU contribution

€ 558 000

Objective

Field of science

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Call for proposal

Funding Scheme

Coordinator

Participants (12)

Partners (13)

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