Acronym MIRACLES
Category
Marine Biotechnology
Title Multi-product Integrated bioRefinery of Algae: from Carbon dioxide and Light Energy to high-value Specialties Programme FP7
Instrument (FP6)
Contact Type (FP7)
Strand (Interreg)
FP7 - Collaborative Project targeted to a Special Group (such as SMEs)
Theme (FP7)
Activity Area (FP6)
Regional Area (Interreg)
Action (COST)
KBBE – Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnology
Specific Programme (FP7)
Cooperation
Funding source European Coordinator Hans Reith Coordinator email hans.reith@wur.nl
Coordinator institution
WUR - Wageningen University and Research (Netherlands)
Institutions involved
NA - CHIMAR HELLAS S.A (Greece) ,
NA - DSM Food Specialties BV (Netherlands) ,
NA - EcoO TreasuresS BVBA (Belgium) ,
NA - EWOS Innovation AS (Norway) ,
NA - Fitoplancton Marino SL (Spain) ,
VITO - Flemish Institute for Technological Research (Belgium) ,
NA - IDCONSORTIUM SL (Spain) ,
IMEnz - IMEnz Bioengineering BV (Netherlands) ,
NA - Natac Biotech SL (Spain) ,
NA - Nova-Institut für Politische und ökologische Innovation GmbH (Germany) ,
NA - RB Biobased Institute BV (Netherlands) ,
NA - Rodenburg Biopolymers BV (Netherlands) ,
CSIC - Spanish National Research Council (Spain) ,
NA - SPAROS Lda (Portugal) ,
NA - Stichting CropEye (Netherlands) ,
NA - Thomas More University of Applied Sciences (Belgium) ,
NA - Uni Research AS (Norway) ,
NA - Unilever Foods Innovation Centre (Netherlands) ,
UA - University of Antofagasta (Chile) ,
UiB - University of Bergen (Norway) ,
UHU - University of Huelva (Spain) ,
ULPGC - University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Spain) ,
UT - University of Twente (Netherlands) ,
NA - Value for Technology BVBA (Belgium) ,
Start year 2013 End year 2017 Funding (€) € 11,908,977 Website https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/613588 Summary "The high cost of available biomass and the lack of appropriate biorefinery technology are two major barriers to fully exploiting algae. Reducing the cost of biomass production, and building effective biorefinery technology and novel products are all key to accelerating the development and scale-up of the algal sector.
The EU-funded MIRACLES set out to overcome these hurdles “via innovation and technology development in algae production and processing, and the development of new products.”.
Microalgae: a natural resource with huge potential
The consortium successfully developed and demonstrated technological innovations to improve the cost-effectiveness of algae production, harvesting and processing. It formulated profit-making multiproduct biorefinery concepts, and introduced a range of new, algae-based specialties for food, aquaculture and non-food applications.
Project partners also developed technologies for concentrating CO2 from the air for algal growth, optimisation of target products in algal biomass and cost reductions in cultivation and harvesting. Through bioprospecting in extreme locations, they selected new, robust industrial strains.
The work was supported by a comprehensive assessment of market opportunities, techno-economic evaluation, development of integral biorefinery designs and scenarios, and business plans aimed at full valorisation of the algal biomass. Specifically, the researchers integrated the results into eight biorefinery scenarios, from biomass production to marketable products incorporating technologies and data developed during the project. It then evaluated the scenarios based on their costs and profitability.
Findings show that a 10 000 tonne multiproduct microalgae biorefinery has commercial potential. In contrast, single product biorefineries of similar sizes are far from profitable. Algae production is a major cost factor, contributing 60 % - 85 % of the total costs, depending on the scenario.
Making microalgae marketable
Researchers assessed the environmental performance of the multiproduct biorefinery concepts. A life cycle analysis quantified major environmental impacts and identified energy use as the major hotspot in microalgae cultivation and refining. To enhance future technology, emphasis should be placed on energy-saving strategies, cost reduction and productivity optimisation in cultivation and processing.
The project team carried out an analysis to better understand the societal benefits of algae cultivation and use, as well as a survey of consumer attitudes towards and expectations of algae products. Overall, consumers are open-minded about and interested in algae products. Concerns are mainly related to potential off-taste, off-smell and purity (toxins, contaminants). Actions such as a quality control policy and appropriate communication need to be taken to reassure consumers that their concerns are well addressed.
MIRACLES achieved a range of exploitable results, including technologies, new product applications and business models supported by a marketing and business plan.
By combining cost reduction and value creation, MIRACLES will contribute to the scale-up and growth of the algae sector within the bioeconomy, strengthen the competitiveness of the European marine biotechnology industry and make it more attractive to investments. "
Keywords
Bioproduct;
Bioprospecting;
Biorefinery ;
Human food;
Technology;
Animal feed;
Marine Region
76
Not associated to marine areas
0
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