IDEA envisions the development and enrolment of economic viable value chains based on micro-algae in NWEurope. More particularly, partners from Belgium, Germany, France, The Netherlands, Ireland and UK are involved which are countries exposed to a similar climate that is significantly different from the south-European and North-European climate.
The growing world population is in need for new sustainable resources for healthy food/feed & chemicals. Algae produce a variety of compounds via conversion of CO2, nutrients and light, and offer potential as renewable feedstock. Although light intensities and temperatures are lower compared to south-Europe, there is a potential for algae growth. For some species, the NWEuropean climate may even have advantages, and can be economic viable when targeting higher value products (not bioenergy).
Today algae based value chains are not established despite free greenhouse capacities suitable for algae growth. IDEA aims to innovate and push the process development from individual solutions to a viable process chain targeting final compounds for food, feed, cosmetic and agro applications. This will involve at longer term >60 SMEs in the region.
A multidisciplinary team is composed with partners (academics, SMEs, sectoral groups, authorities…) active along the value chain which covers algae growth, harvesting, medium re-use, processing of the algae biomass (including biorefinery) and new marketable final product formulations.
IDEA addresses innovations related to: (1) algae species for NWEurope climate and cultivation efficiency for prolonged growth seasons in NWE (up to 360 days), (2) development of an automated water recirculation, harvest unit & alternative CO2 resources, (3) storage concept, logistics and preservation of algae biomass, (4) regional activities for algae processing, potentially comparable to the milk industry, (5) >15 novel products formulations to targeting value generation. In the IDEA capitalization part, the potential of side-streams is being evaluated for providing nutrients (N/P), CO2, salts, and/or water) in algae growth. IDEA starts where earlier projects ended.
Wilhelm-Johren strasse
Jülich
52425
Germany
850 Bd Sebastien Brant
Illkirch
67400
France
40 Diestsevest
Leuven
3000
Belgium
Grande Voie des Vignes
Châtenay-Malabry Cedex
92295
France
25F Stayerhofweg
EJ Wanssum
5861
Netherlands
4 Kleinhoefstraat
Geel
2440
Belgium
1 Ashtown
Dublin
15
Ireland
5 Drienerlolaan
NB Enschede
7522
Netherlands
Singleton Park
Swansea
SA2 8PP
United Kingdom
1 Fruittuinweg
Sint-Truiden
3800
Belgium
218 Veldstraat
Temse
9140
Belgium
200 Boeretang
Mol
2400
Belgium
Lead partner
| Organisation | Address | Website | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek |
200 Boeretang Mol 2400 Belgium |
leen.bastiaens@vito.be | www.vito.be |
| Name | Contact Name | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH | Christina Kuchendorf | c.kuchendorf@fz-juelich.de | Germany |
| Algae Natural Food SAS | Louis Bourdonnay | lbourdonnay@algae-natural-food.com | France |
| Innovatiesteunpunt voor landbouw en platteland | Kristof Severijns | kristof.severijns@innovatiesteunpunt.be | Belgium |
| CentraleSupélec – Université Paris-Saclay | Behnam Taidi | behnam.taidi@centralesupelec.fr | France |
| Feed Design Lab | Trudy van Megen | trudyvanmegen@feeddesignlab.nl | Netherlands |
| Thomas More Kempen vzw | Sabine Van Miert | sabine.vanmiert@thomasmore.be | Belgium |
| Teagasc, The Irish Agricultural and Food Development Authority | Maria Hayes | maria.hayes@teagasc.ie | Ireland |
| University of Twente | WIm Brilman | wim.brilman@utwente.nl | Netherlands |
| Swansea University | Alla Silkana | a.silkina@swansea.ac.uk | United Kingdom |
| PCFruit vzw | Wendy Van Hemelrijck | wendy.vanhemelrijck@pcfruit.be | Belgium |
| Heirbaut LV | Kris Heirbaut | heirbautlv@telenet.be | Belgium |
The IDEA capitalization project concluded in 2023 with an event. This event was organized on September 28th 2023 as a physical meeting hosted by VITO in Mol (Belgium). All stakeholders involved in algae value chains were welcome to attend the event and to share experiences!
Below you can revisit the programme and presentations, the posters and the project videos that were shown during the event.
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The IDEA capitalization project will conclude in 2023 with an event. This event was organized on September 28th 2023 as a physical meeting hosted by VITO in Mol (Belgium). All stakeholders involved in algae value chains were welcome to attend the event and to share experiences.
IDEA envisions the development and enrolment of economic viable value chains based on micro-algae in NWEurope. For that we need to interact with everybody active in that chain.
We made a digital inspiration tour that offers you the possibility to 'visit' actors in the micro algae chain and get in touch with them. This at your own speed when you have time for it!vYou can see different colors of dots on the map representing the different links in the value chain. Every dot gives access to contact info and a corporate video. By watching the video, you can 'visit' the company. Do you have further questions? Contact the company!
Have a nice trip and be careful!
Do you miss your or other companies? Please contact Kristof Severijns: kristof.severijns@boerenbond.be
During the event findings of the IDEA project were presented by the project partners covering among others year round micro algae growth in NWeurope, increasing sustainability of micro algae growth and harvest, wet preservation of algae biomass, processing of algae biomass into products, algae-based product evaluation (feed/food/cosmetics), whole value chain assessment for techno-economic and logistic aspects, and a roadmap towards implementation of an economic viable algae value chain. Further, interactions with other projects (like ValgOrize) & stakeholders will be enabled to get a broader view on opportunities/barriers for algae in Europe.
Contact: IDEA-project@vito.be
You can review all presentations from our microalgae webinar in French and English here
FZ Jülich organised a workshop and discussion ‘Algenbasierte Wertschöpfungsketten und Schnittstellen zur Bioökonomie’ on January 16th, 2020.
Innovatiesteunpunt has organised a two-day field trip to visit several algae growers and processors in The Netherlands. 10 people were very interested in visiting the various companies such as the Algaeparc (University of Wageningen) and Roem Van Yerseke (a grower of algae). You can read the report about this trip here in Dutch.
To help people understand our project IDEA better, we made an infographic.
You can read our IDEA folder here.
