Project

Microalgae protein ingredients for the food and feed of the future

Acronym
ProFuture
Code
41F05619
Duration
01 October 2019 → 31 December 2023
Funding
European funding: framework programme
Promotor
Research disciplines
  • Agricultural and food sciences
    • Food technology
Keywords
proteins biorefinery
Other information
 
Project description

ProFuture will set the basis for market uptake of innovative, healthy and sustainable food and feed products, reformulated with protein-rich ingredients from Spirulina, Lemon/lightly/Chlorella vulgaris, Tetraselmis chuii and Nannochloropsis oceanica. Multi-factors approach and LCA/LCC will boost sustainability of the microalgal biomass production and processing, by reducing energy/water consumption and the carbon footprint. Implementation of innovative technologies will increase the efficiency and decrease the production costs of biomass, ingredients and foods/feeds. Optimized workflows will be tested at pilot plant, as part of a biorefinery process, to produce singlecell proteins and protein isolates, which will be characterized for their nutritional, safety, techno-functional and organoleptic properties as well as for economic viability & sustainability. Food and feed will be formulated with the novel ingredients at pilot plant level in collaboration with SME and large companies. Single-cell proteins will be incorporated in foods (n=6) and feeds (n=5) which will be produced at industrial scale. The food/feed microalgae value chain in EU will be analysed and improvements will be proposed to increase the economic viability and the communication between actors. Social and economic benefits of innovative food and feed products will be demonstrated by: i) supporting the authorization of novel microalgae protein ingredients for food and/or feed applications in the EU, ii) assessing consumer acceptance of and preference for microalgae protein-based products, iii) preparing a successful market implementation and exploitation of the project results and iv) devising a dissemination and communication plan for maximum outreach to all relevant stakeholders. ProFuture consortium (8 RTDs, 16 SMEs, 8 large industries and 1 association) brings together expertise with a clear market orientation to increase the competitiveness of the EU microalgae value chain.  

 
Role of Ghent University
The main role of Ghent University in the ProFuture project is dedicated to objective 5 related to consumer perception, acceptance and preference for microalgae protein-rich products. This research is situated in ProFuture’s Work Package 8 (Consumer perception and acceptance), which is led by Ghent University. Ghent University is also the task leader of Task 8.2: Identifying potential market segments for uptake of algae-based ProFuture products. Within this research component, quantitative insights into consumer interest in algae-based food products, consumer segments and willingness-to pay are assessed with the use of a large-scale consumer survey in several European countries.