ALGANOVA – Advanced aLGAe biorefiNery for circular prOtein and food ingredient production through CO2 and food by-products VAlorisation

ALGANOVA is a 48-month action that aims to develop to TRL 7 a computationally assisted biorefinery to produce alternative proteins and high-value food bioproducts from microalgal biomass, using agro-marine by-products and industrial biogenic CO2 emissions as feedstocks. The target product portfolio includes protein extracts, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and carotenoids, supporting the full valorisation of biomass into food products. Algal biomass will be produced through an in-parallel autotrophic and heterotrophic microalgal cultivation strategy, enabling the utilisation of food by-products as organic carbon sources and CO2 wastes as inorganic carbon for photosynthesis. This approach promotes the diversification of bio-compounds produced and expands their potential applications in food prototypes. The biorefinery process will include feedstock pre-treatment, biomass cultivation, harvesting, cell disruption, compound extraction, and purification. A circular and zero-waste model will be implemented to ensure the complete valorisation of all biomass fractions into food-grade products. Advanced digital tools, including genome-scale metabolic models (GEMs), digital twins, and automated control systems, will be developed to enhance bioprocesses performance, reduce production costs, and support scale-up to relevant operational environment. All extracted ingredients will be incorporated into food prototypes and assessed for chemical composition, nutritional value, and safety, in compliance with EU regulations. Final products will be validated in collaboration with industrial end-users and evaluated for their functional and sensory properties, as well as their social acceptance and market potential. Future industry uptake will be fostered with multi-stakeholders’ engagement, standardisation, certification and regulation activities combined with an effective communication dissemination and exploitation plan.