Development of a resource-saving photobioreactor system for cost-effective algae production and formulation of an algae-based fresh product for vegan sports nutrition and the senior pet food sector
The aim of the AlgaFit project is to establish a sustainable aquatic value chain with spirulina and nannochloropsis. The combined production of these microalgae in stacked reactors should be resource-efficient and cost-effective, while delivering high yields. Newly developed photobioreactors with LED lighting and agriphotovoltaics are intended to minimise production costs and thus protect the environment.
The main product will be an ‘algae squeeze’ for sports nutrition. Once the associated high standards have been achieved, a spin-off product for senior pet food will also be developed. Production is being developed by algatec GmbH in co-operation with the AWI and Bremen University of Applied Sciences and coordinated under the direction of INPUT engineers.
The simultaneous cultivation of the two food-approved algae species requires adaptation to different environmental conditions. Spirulina grows in LED-lit IBC containers, while Nannochloropsis is produced in turbulent film photobioreactors.
The aim is to produce both algae efficiently ‘from a single source’ in order to create a competitive end product. A quality assurance concept and marketing strategies are part of the funding provided by the Innovation Area.
The companies and scientific partners from northern Germany are working closely together to establish a stable, quality-assured process for microalgae-based fresh products.
With the AlgaFit project, a new path is being taken: Microalgae such as Spirulina (Arthrospira) and Nannochloropsis are to be produced efficiently, sustainably and in Northern Germany, as the basis for vegan, vitalizing sports nutrition and senior pet food. The focus is not only on product innovations, but also on the development of a resource-saving production chain for the “Blue Bioeconomy”.
At the center of the project is the simultaneous cultivation of two proven microalgae species:
• Spirulina grows in specially developed, LED-lit IBC containers.
• Nannochloropsis thrives in turbulent foil reactors.
Both systems are vertically stacked in order to minimize land use. This creates a modular, space-saving system for fresh algae production, which at the same time is particularly energy-efficient through agriphotovoltaics and smart LED technology.
As the first end product, a fresh algae “squeezy pouch” is to be developed, a vitalizing snack for athletes. The recipe aims at a nutrient-rich, easily digestible supplement to a plant-based diet. Once this first hurdle has been overcome, a second product for age-appropriate pet nutrition is to be created, a senior pet food based on algae.
For implementation, a new container-based photobioreactor unit is being built, which combines proven algabag® technology with further developed silo and IBC systems. In addition to cultivation, special attention is paid to material flow recording, energy efficiency and quality assurance, all decisive factors for creating marketable products.
AlgaFit wants to show that microalgae not only provide sustainable ingredients, but can also be produced economically, directly on site, with low land requirements and high efficiency. Together with partners from science and industry, a process is being developed that can set new standards for functional nutritional supplementation in the Blue Bioeconomy.
Project duration: 01.06.2024 – 31.12.2025
INPUT Ingenieure GmbH
Production partner
algatec GmbH
Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) Bremen University of Applied Sciences
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