Superfoods from microalgae grown thanks to a power plant

Algae for Healthy World is born, a consortium to produce microalgae biocomposites with food applications. The seven entities that make up it - AINIA, Center for Biological Research (CSIC-CIB), Endesa, Mar Cristal Marilum, Neoalgae Micro Seaweeds Products, Novatec and University of Cádiz - have met to formalize the start of the project, whose objective is to develop the biotechnological tools necessary to improve and optimize the production of biomass of marine origin.

The consortium, led by Endesa and with the University of Cádiz as technical coordinator, is made up of seven partners with a heterogeneous profile (each of them leaders in their field of research), who provide a complementary and multidisciplinary vision. At the launch meeting, the project promoters highlighted the objective of the study to “generate new products and increase the profitability of microalgae cultivation technology on an industrial scale, as well as position Spain as a leader in the production of these bioproducts.” . The microalgae biomass market currently generates about 10,000 tons of dry matter per year, which reports a turnover of approximately 1.5 billion euros per year worldwide.

The Algae for Healthy World, A4HW, project has a budget of one million euros for a development period of two years and is co-financed by the European Union through FEDER funds, within the Collaboration Challenges program of the Ministry of Economy. Industry and Competitiveness (specifically “Food Safety and Quality Challenge; productive and sustainable agricultural activity, natural resources, marine and maritime research”). 

In addition, it also aims to develop the biotechnological tools necessary to improve and optimize biomass production and develop the study of pigments - mainly antioxidants - and other value-added fractions, from different microalgae, focusing its developments on different strains of Spirulina, Nannochloropsis gaditana and Pyrocistis. The results of the project will be validated in the microalgae pilot plant of more than 1,500 m2 for the capture and fixation of CO2 that Endesa has had since 2006 in the town of Carboneras (Almería) to demonstrate the uses of microalgae and its extracts of interest in the food sector.