Oct 2022 - Oct 2026
CIRCular valorisation of industrial ALGAE waste streams into high-value products to foster future sustainable blue biorefineries in Europe
Algae biomass is highly underexploited and its efficient utilization is one of the main challenges in current and future EU marine policies towards sustainability. CIRCALGAE will boost the blue bioeconomy by applying an integrated biorefinery concept to valorise the massively produced (over 36 Mt of algae biomass annual world production) and vastly underexploited algae industrial waste streams (which can add up to 95% of the initial biomass) from the main existing sources to date: the phycolloid production from macroalgae and protein/lipid microalgae industries. CIRCALGAE’s simple, water-based technologies, will transform these waste streams into value-added ingredients to be used in specific texturized vegan foods, health-promoting food ingredients, protein rich feed, and cosmetic formulations incorporating texturizing or highly bioactive ingredients for topical use. 3 blue biorefinery schemes up-scaled to hundreds of kg will be demonstrated throughout CIRCALGAE project. 12 demonstrator products will be developed by food, feed and cosmetic industry partners validating the great potential of novel algae ingredients in these key sectors. Additionally, 2 final products will be qualified for market including their studies in consumer acceptance assessments. Through co-creating and colearning, CIRCALGAE will connect all algae cross-sectional actors, including industrial end-user partners, RTOs, technological and consultancy SMEs, for the validation of all health-promoting effects and claims, regulatory aspects and environmental, economic and social impacts, engaging all relevant stakeholders in the primary sector to re-shape the current industrial network for a future thriving blue bioeconomy.
Program
HorizonEU
Budget
10.3 M€
Duration
48 months
Partners
Kungliga Tekniska Hogskolan
Spanish National Research Council (CSIC-IATA)
IGV Institut für Getreideverarbeitung GmbH
Møreforsking
Aquimer
SAFE - Safe Food Advocacy Europe
A4F AlgaFuel SA
Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant
Hispanagar SA
SALATA AB
Civitta Estonia AS
Teagasc
Alginor
Roquette Klötze GmbH & Co. KG
Centre d'etude et de valorisation des algues SA
CEAMSA
Nordic Sea Farm
Nuscience Group NV
Saponia
Zeto
RNBCosmetics
A4F Role
A4F will provide algae biomass to the project and participate in algae cultivation and algae biomass manufacturing activities. It will participate as a technology validator, assessing the replicability of the biorefinery and contributing to market exploitation.