Algae2Future

Summary

• A2F addresses key challenges that today limit sustainable and profitable use of microalgae based technologies.
• Norway has special natural resources and favorable conditions for culturing microalgae, but also special needs for proteins and fatty acids for sustainable fish farming and agriculture industries.
• A successful A2F will demonstrate the potential for future development of a wide range of novel food and feed, produced in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way.
• The potential benefits to society are considerable when producing high quality proteins and fatty acids, as well  as other bioactive molecules, at the lowest possible trophic level without need for arable land.

 
A2F brings Algae to the Future by integrating Fundamental Algae Research and Applied Industrial Practices. A2F envisages that the knowledge and technology platform provided by the project will create a viable microalgae industry as a part of the new Norwegian bio economy within the next 10 to 15years.

By targeting microalgae, ALGAE TO FUTURE (A2F) intends to explore their potential to be low-carbon-footprint healthy ingredients for future food and feed. The main objective of A2F is to lay the foundation for industrial microalgae production in Norway, utilizing natural resources and waste streams from existing value chains within agriculture, aquaculture and process industry. This concerted Norwegian-Dutch-Portuguese- Spanish-Belgian-Japanese research and commerce initiative will be facilitated by employing the Microalgae Pilot facility at Mongstad, and a network of photobioreactors used for microalgae cultivation throughout Norway, in order to provide algae biomass for application testing and product evaluation in a co-innovation framework with industry end-users.

A Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) will be performed based on the production line at the Cluster of Farmers headed by Folvengaard. Partners will interact with their relevant scientific and commercial expertise in disciplines and fields such as microalgae technology, stress physiology, biorefining, baking technology, fish nutrition and feed technology, food quality and safety, bioeconomy, broadcast journalism and animation. Together with a Multi-Actor Team (Reference Group), consisting of a wide panoply of end-users, the Consortium will ensure optimal interactions between research, industry and consumers for future food and feed.

A2F will develop three approved microalgal value chains demonstrating the potential of various uses of algal biomass rich in respectively starch, protein and omega-3-fatty acids. A2F focuses on food safety aspects of the products and on their market acceptance. All parties involved will pay special attention to the recruiting and training of young researchers, including master students, PhDs and Post docs. There will be a number of mobility activities throughout the project period. A2F will implement a Communication Strategy for optimal exploitation and dissemination of Project results.