Editorial by Lila Otero-González, ALGANOVA Project Coordinator
Welcome to the ALGANOVA project! We are pleased to share the project’s progress and activities, and invite you to follow our journey exploring how sustainable, nutritious food ingredients can be produced with more efficient use of resources.
ALGANOVA is developing a computationally assisted circular biorefinery based on microalgae to support more sustainable ways of producing valuable ingredients. To do so, it applies innovative biological processes, digital technologies and food-product development. At the core of ALGANOVA is an integrated cultivation strategy combining autotrophic and heterotrophic microalgal production. This approach will enable the project to investigate different routes for producing alternative proteins and other high-value microalgae-derived ingredients starting from various underutilized by-product streams. Its target product portfolio includes protein extracts, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and carotenoids. These ingredients will be assessed for use in different food applications, from bakery products to meat-substitutes.
ALGANOVA’s objectives address production, sustainability and scale-up. The project seeks to increase production capacity and diversify sources of microalgal protein, while reducing energy inputs and improving the overall sustainability of the process. Modeling, automation and digital twins will support better-informed decisions along the pathway from laboratory to larger-scale demonstration. Moreover, technical development is accompanied by evaluation of nutrition, safety, quality and sensory properties. The project includes the development and validation of food prototypes, ensuring results are relevant to industrial practice and consumers.
ALGANOVA’s strength lies in the complementary expertise and shared commitment of its partners. The consortium brings together research organizations, technology developers, microalgae specialists, food innovators and industrial actors, covering the full pathway from resource valorization and microalgae cultivation to biorefinery optimization, digital modelling, food formulation, sustainability assessment and industrial validation. This range of expertise supports coordinated work across the scientific, technical and practical aspects of the project, while ensuring that it remains connected to market considerations and real food-system needs.
The expected impact extends beyond the development of new ingredients. ALGANOVA seeks to contribute to more sustainable value chains, support the growth of the circular bioeconomy and offer relevant pathways for the food sector as it responds to environmental, resource and consumer challenges. Through its integrated approach, the project aims to show how innovation in microalgae-based food production can help build more resilient and sustainable food systems.
Thank you for joining us on this journey! Through our website, newsletter and social media accounts we look forward to sharing ALGANOVA’s activities, insights and milestones as the partnership works to turn promising science into practical pathways for more circular, nutritious and sustainable food production.