Major global challenges are the shortage of fossil fuels, food availability, climate change etc. in the near future which require action and strategic planning to ensure access to food, feed and energy in the future. Therefore, alternative sources of bio-based products are required immediate attention. Algal biomass has great potential to meet these future challenges. The main objective of this project is to develop a new algae-based concept for sustainable production of food, feed, biochemicals and biofuels. The following sub-objectives have been defined:
- a) Develop promising technologies for the production of food supplements (alginate and β-carotene),
- b) Develop technologies for the production of pigments and phenolic compounds,
- c) Development of technologies for exploitation of algae to produce biofuels (biohydrogen, biomethane, bioethanol and biodiesel),
- d) Optimized algae cultivation conditions for increased production of biomass, including the development of algae cultivation rotation system,
- e) Integrating biofuel production with algae cultivation by recycling of CO2 from flue gas of gas engines towards algae growing facility and recycling of process wastewater as nutrient enrichment for algae cultivation,
- f) Develop an innovative bioflocculation method for harvesting micro-algae,
- g) Use algae as a biofertilizers in rice and wheat cultivation,
- h) Evaluate the sustainability of algae utilization for food, biochemicals and biofuels production.