The amount of food currently produced must double to meet the needs of the projected world population of around 9.8 billion people by 2050. In addition, approximately one billion people have an inadequate protein intake, and the demand for protein is growing significantly. Today, more than 80% of the protein imported into Europe for livestock nutrition comes from non-European countries, much of it from unsustainable sources. Microalgae have shown potential to meet the population’s need for a more sustainable food supply, specifically with regard to protein demand.
In any case, the exploitation of microalgae biomass as a source of protein and other valuable products within the food industry still presents some drawbacks, mainly due to the currently available underdeveloped technologies and processes. Based on promising previous data and projects, the ProFuture project focuses on the implementation of innovative, sustainable, and cost-effective technologies to produce microalgae-based protein ingredients on an industrial and pilot plant scale, and incorporate them into safe, healthy, and organoleptically acceptable food and feed.
OBJECTIVES
- Make microalgae cultivation more efficient, sustainable, and affordable.
- Improve the production of protein-rich ingredients from microalgae biomass.
- Create nutritious and tasty food and feed from microalgae proteins.
- Increase production and conquer the market for microalgae-based food and feed.
DURATION: OCT 01, 2019 – SEPT 30, 2023
PARTICIPANTS
- Institut de Recerca I Tecnologia Agroalimentaries (Coordinator)
- Afoi Koutsantoni EE
- Algosource Technologies
- Allmicroalgae Natural Products SA
- ALVER Golden Chlorella SA
- Apexagri SAS
- Associação Oceano Verde –CoLAB
- Axia Innovation UG
- Calé –Industria & Comércio, Limitada
- Civitta Eesti As
- Conservas Hijos de Manuel Sanchez Basarte, S.A.
- COOP Italia –Società Cooperativa (SCARL)
- Deutsches Institut für Lebensmitteltechnik
- Eigen Vermogen van het Instituut voor Landbouw –en Visserijonderzoek –EV ILVO
- Enervit SPA
- ESU-Services GmbH
- European Food Information Council
- Food and Agriculture Requirements
- Foodcompanions Holding BV – Bridge2Food
- Givaudan Nederland BV
- INVE Technologies NV
- NECTON –Companhia Portuguesa de Culturas Marinhas SA
- Norwegian Research Centre AS
- Nutrition Sciences
- Tradizioni Padane S.r.l.
- Universiteit Gent
- University of Twente
- Vitafort Elso Takarmanygyarto es Forgalmazo Zartkoruen Mukodo RT
- Viva Maris GmbH
- Wageningen University and Research
FINANCING
TOTAL COST: €9,448,109.01
EU CONTRIBUTION: €7,775,109.01
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