TACO Algae will take a circular economy approach to evaluate two different red algae species in existing SMEs. The first one is currently
harvested wild, while the other is cultured in a sustainable new cultivation system. The circular economy approach focuses on supply chain
optimization and minimization of waste. Optimizations are performed with respect to extraction, characterization and utilization of red
pigment, protein, lipids, carrageenan and bioactive compounds. The goal is to utilize all constituents and most importantly to find an optimal
processing approach to yield the highest amount of the most valuable product, and then valorize the remaining components in the best
way. As the pigments are currently viewed as the highest value component, we will first extract pigment with highest stability and
investigate methods to obtain a colorant that can be utilized both in aqueous and lipid-based food products. The pigment quality, stability
and suitability for integration in various product matrixes will be investigated. The lipid fraction will be characterized with respect to fatty
acids composition to evaluate valorization, while carrageenan as already been marketed as texturizer and algae has also been used as
biostimulants. Finally, bioactive compounds e.g. polyphenols will be investigated with respect to composition and antioxidative capacity. Life
cycle assessment will be used to evaluate the most economically, societal and environmentally sustainable process, both with respect to
order of isolation, volume of biomass to different markets, seasonal possibilities for biomass valorization, as well as the effect on societal
infrastructure and the impact on the environment. The overall goal is to reduce waste, increase local competence based work places and
ensure sustainable utilization of biological resources,
- Name of organisation
- Vetik OÜ
- Type of organisation
- Private enterprise
- Type of action proposed
- Research and innovation
- The action contributes to the following objective or enabler
- Make the sustainable blue economy carbon-neutral and circular
- List of Partners
Nofima AS
Aarhus university
Univsersity of Santiago de compostela
Riga Technical University
Hyndla ltd.
- Start date of the action
- End date of the action
- Budget allocated for the action
- 1311000
- Basin coverage
- Baltic/North Sea
- Website link
- tanel.ilmjarv@vetik.eu
- Country
- Estonia