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[REPLAY] Workshop “Best practices on the production and sustainability of microalgae in Europe”

Highlights:

00:02:53

Auto and heterotrophic microalgae production – from side streams to high-value products: Experience from MULTI-STR3AM & CIRCALGAE projects

Luis Costa, A4F

Presentation

00 :42 :08

Microalgae production for cosmetics and more

Marco Kreische, IGV GmbH

Presentation

01 :02 :30

Improvement of selected microalgae strains for the production of valuable biocompounds

João Manoel, IMIC/ Algatech

Presentation

01 :30 :09

Industrializing an alternative source of phycocyanin from Galdieria sulphuraria and driving side stream valorization

Olivier Cagnac, Fermentalg

Presentation

01 :51 :00

Improving sustainability in microalgae production

Mariana Carneiro, Necton

Presentation

02:10:00

Recap from a 10-year journey in the Astaxanthin business

Jan Eric Jessen, Algalif

Presentation

About the workshop:

On October 22th, CIRCALGAE project’s partners held the second workshop in a series of events to be organized throughout the project. In order to facilitate/improve interactions between the partners of the different European projects, the workshop was organized within the framework of the CIRCALGAE and the MultiStr3am projects. The event was held as a hybrid workshop, co-organized by CEVA and A4F. It gathered project partners and stakeholders in Algatec Eco Business Park facilities in Lisbon, while also allowing all interested parties to attend online, with more than 200 registered participants. The workshop focused on best practices and sustainability for European microalgae production. 

The workshop gave the floor to various European stakeholders across the microalgae sector. After a short welcoming speech from Amparo Jimenez Quero (Chalmers, coordinator of CIRCALGAE project) and Mariana Doria (A4F, coordinator of Multi-Str3am project), the first part of the webinar focused on the presentation of the work carried out within the framework of these two European projects, and how the sustainability dimension of production is taken into account within the framework of this type of project. 

Luis Costa, from A4F, was given the floor to launch the first session, with the presentation of the work and objectives of the two projects CIRCALGAE and Muli-Str3am. Luis explained in particular how the optimization of the processes of cultivation and harvesting of algal biomass could reduce OPEX (Operating Expenditure) and CAPEX (Capital Expenditure) in the production of microalgae whether in autotrophic and heterotrophic conditions, for different markets, for a company that plans to grow and increase its operational capacities, or simply reduce its costs with the objective of a sustainable activity. 

Marco Kreische, from IGV GmbH, started with a short presentation of his company activities with the production of multiple non-food species (filamentous cyanobacteria, diatoms, red algae,) then continued on the optimization of Phaeodactylum microalgae production within CIRCALGAE project. These have been done by exploring salinity reduction and pH increase of cultivation medium, the optimization of light exposure, …. to improve biomass production and investigate if the fucoxanthin content in biomass was increased. Scale effect and input costs have been approached to evaluate sustainability and profitability of production. Marco concluded with a relevant subject regarding microalgae production evolution compared to agriculture and next steps to consider, such as strain optimization by varietal selection. 

Joao Manoel, from Algatech IMIC, closed this first session with the presentation of different strategies for improving strains or productivity, using combinations of biotic and abiotic approaches. He presented the work carried out in the Multi-str3am project on the development of alternative sources for palm oil or lutein, by cultivating microalgae, after the optimization of the culture parameters and using different sources of stress, or by the use of modified-strains obtained by mutagenesis. 

For the second part of the webinar, the floor was given to key companies in the microalgae production field in Europe. Olivier Cagnac, from Fermentalg, opened this second session. After a short presentation of his company’s activities and products, he focused the topic on a case of study: the phycocyanin production from Galdieria sulphuraria microalgae, and mainly the advantages in production and formulation compared to classic phycocyanin from spirulina. 

Then Mariana Carneiro, from Necton, took the floor to present the multiple optimizations realized to improve the production of microalgae, within the framework of numerous European projects such as Algavalor, Magnificent, proFuture, Algacycle and Realm. The parameters investigated concern, among other things, access to light, recycling of nutrients and water, optimization of agitation for energy savings or optimization of PBR culture systems. The circular economy approach is at the heart of Necton’s strategy, and a major challenge for achieving sustainability in the production of microalgae. 

Finally, Jan Eric Jessen, from Algalif, was given the mission of concluding the workshop. He explained the different steps of the development and the evolution of the company, a major player in the field of astaxanthin production, and the reasons for its success. Initially based in Norway, the choice was made to relocate the company to Iceland in 2013, close to the eruption area, in a region with high salaries, far from the markets, … If you want to understand why, listen to the explanations of Jan Eric and all the other speakers by clicking on the replay link or find all the speakers’ presentations above. 

Interactive questions sessions with the speakers were also organized for in presence and online attendees.  

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