Microalgal biomass valorization for sustainable production of functional food and feed ingredients – BIOVAL

The main aim of this proposal is the development of innovative and efficient microalgal cultivation and biomass extraction processes, in order to improve the environmental sustainability of the production of value-added compounds, with particular interest in the development of food supplements and feed for aquaculture. The project will explore a cascade approach to efficiently and selectively extract bioactive lipids from selected microalgal species, focusing on innovative extraction procedures to reduce the environmental impact of toxic solvents. Major attention will be paid to the production of monoacylglycerols (MAGs), bioactive molecules with anti-inflammatory and cancer-prevention activity, but still poorly developed as potential nutraceuticals. The beneficial effects and safety of these compounds will be assessed through in vitro and in vivo assays. These molecules could contribute to increasing the pool of novel marine-derived metabolites providing health benefits as dietary/food supplements, offering valid alternatives to animal-derived food, such as fish oil. The side-stream delipidified microalgae biomass containing mainly proteins and carbohydrates will be exploited for the production of feed for aquaculture. The remaining mass can provide biofertiliser for agriculture, pointing at creating a zero-waste bio-refinery model. To address the scalability issues inherent in traditional production systems for microalgae cultivation, we will employ Photobioreactor-As (PBR-A) technology, an innovative modular design that allows end users, such as nutraceutical companies and animal feed manufacturers, to deploy PBR-As onsite, ensuring a reliable supply of algae biomass tailored to specific commercial needs. Overall the project will provide new knowledge for efficient cultivation and extraction processes to improve the environmental sustainability of valuable compounds production from microalgal biomass for food supplement and aquaculture feed, in line with the objectives of the GreenDeal and the Sustainable Development Goals.