Our PROJECTS

Neoalgae is a company accredited by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness with the seal of innovative SMEs.

Selected by the CDTI (Spanish Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology) as an exemplary company in its section HÉROES DE LA INNOVACIÓN in 2016-2017, Neoalgae is part of the most innovative projects in R&D for the research and use of microalgae in food, biofertilisers, environment, cosmetics and health.

We implement the microalgae value chain with developments in its harvesting, extraction and drying process, as well as in its application in sectors as diverse as health, cosmetics and food.

Our PROJECTS

Neoalgae is a company accredited by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness with the seal of innovative SMEs.

Selected by the CDTI (Spanish Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology) as an exemplary company in its section HÉROES DE LA INNOVACIÓN in 2016-2017, Neoalgae is part of the most innovative projects in R&D for the research and use of microalgae in food, biofertilisers, environment, cosmetics and health.

We implement the microalgae value chain with developments in its harvesting, extraction and drying process, as well as in its application in sectors as diverse as health, cosmetics and food.

AGROALGA

ALGAE BIOSTIMULANTS WITH PHYTOSANITARY EFFECT

Financed by

Biostimulants and biofertilisers are NEOALGAE’s ultimate business line. We produce and commercialise Spiragro, a biofertiliser rich in amino acids, from the microalgae Spirulina. Besides that, industrial tomato is one of the most important crops in Spain with 3.2 million tonnes grown in 2017 (MAPAMA, 2017). From the phytosanitary point of view, it is a crop with a high incidence of pests and diseases; the fruits and leaves are very close, being susceptible to suffer combined attacks, which directly implies a decrease in the crop’s yield.
On the other hand, it is an annual crop so that plant health threats can wipe out the entire crop. AGROALGA researches and develops new biostimulants from algae biomass with a phytosanitary action on industrial tomato harvesting thanks to the incorporation of aromatic plant extracts.
To develop our new products, we will carry out some innovations to overcome the following technological challenges:

  1. Microalgae selection: emerging species will be used in this field.
  2. Microalgae harvesting: new microalgae culture and harvesting processes will be developed and optimised to obtain cutting-edge biomass.
  3. Microalgae extractions: new, sustainable and economical extraction processes will be developed to obtain the aromatic plant extracts.
  4. Biostimulant production: development of enzymatic biocatalytic processes.
  5. Biostimulant with phytosanitary capacity formulation: a formulation with an innovative mixture of microalgae, macroalgae and aromatic plant extracts.

MOONSHINE- EUROSTAR

Financed by

MICROALGAE IN THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY: SEWAGE SLUDGE TREATMENT TO PRODUCE VALUE-ADDED COMPOUNDS AND CLEAN WATER

The MOONSHINE project has the final objective of creating a modular, scalable and self-controlled plant based on microalgae capable of treating manure slurry with low operating and installation costs. The automatic and continuous microalgae harvesting will be designed to optimise water purification and biomass production for the aquaculture and chemical market. 
In order to achieve the common objectives of all partners in the international global Eurostars project, NEOALGAE will develop a system for the treatment of wastewater and sludge from the livestock industry using microalgae to obtain new compounds, formulations or products that can be marketed in different markets (such as biofertilisers, cosmetics, etc.).

The project is led by the Italian engineering company STAM and has the participation of the Portuguese company SPAROS (fish feeding sector), as well as NEOALGAE. 
Eurostars is a joint programme between EUREKA and the European Commission, and the first European funding and support programme dedicated explicitly to SMEs carrying out research. 
This project has received funding from the Eurostars-2 joint programme with co-funding from the CDTI (Spanish Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology) and the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Framework Programme

Innovation Check

Financed by:
Financed by IDEPA

Neoalgae achieved a consultancy aid for an R&D project certification according to the UNE 166001:2006 standard in the framework of the Innovation Check Program. This project is subsidised by the European Regional Development Fund and IDEPA.

ENVALGRA

Financed by

Development of a new generation of environmentally friendly functional fluids based on microalgae oil modified with nanomaterials from the graphene family (GFN)

The ENVALGRA project, co-financed by the Government of the Principality of Asturias through IDEPA, and by the European Union through the ERDF, is part of the international call for proposals M-ERA.NET network. Formed by a four-company consortium coordinated by NEOALGAE, comprises three countries: NEOALGAE and SVMAC, from Spain; NANOGRAFEN, from Turkey; and LIST, from Luxembourg.

ENVALGRA’s main innovation will combine microalgae oil, graphite nano-leaf (GNS) synthesised by chemical peeling and thermal expansion, and other additives to develop functional fluids with better tribological properties than those currently available based on water or vegetable or mineral oils, more sustainable and environmentally friendly and with a lower risk of exposure for workers.

During the project, different applications for these functional fluids will be studied, such as their use as transmission and hydraulic fluids, metalworking fluids, heat transfer fluids, process oils or lubricants. Besides, industrial processes for obtaining oil from microalgae and GNS will be defined. Feasibility studies will ensure that sustainable and efficient production of sufficient raw materials of the required quality is possible to guarantee the production of the new functional fluids on an industrial scale.

LANDFILL4HEALTH

Research for the use of a waste treatment complex for the production of microalgae.

Financed by
Financed by IDEPA

The GLOBAL GOAL of the Landfill4Health project is to investigate and demonstrate the use of a non-hazardous waste landfill and its complementary facilities (COGERSA’s waste treatment complex) to house an industrial microalgae harvesting aimed at producing high-value active ingredients in the field of nutraceutics, health and cosmetics; this makes it a disruptive and unique project in the world.

In short, the project aims to seek new business opportunities by connecting the bioeconomy with waste management as an example of the circular economy, by trying to take advantage of the CO2 from the complex’s emissions generated in waste treatment (landfill biogas, incineration, anaerobic digestion biogas), the nutrients available in the purified effluents, and even the residual biomass produced after the extraction of the active principles from the cultivated microalgae.

Landfill4Health builds on the learning achieved with the ReCO2very project. It becomes a pioneering “aquaculture 2.0” project aligned with the EU climate and energy package that seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions [[1]], with the European bio-economy strategy that addresses the production of renewable biological resources and their conversion into vital products and bio-energy [[2]], and with the EU’s circular economy package concerned with using resources in a more sustainable way [[3]]. Landfill4Health is co-financed both by the Government of the Principality of Asturias through IDEPA, and by the European Union through the ERDF. It has a budget approved by IDEPA of 295,687.04 euros and a grant of 197,548.15 euros.

PINT 2018

Research for the use of a waste treatment complex for the production of microalgae

Financed by
Financed by IDEPA

MONITORING AND CONSOLIDATION IN TARGET MARKETS AND STRENGTHENING INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE THROUGH E-MARKET PLACES

The PINT Programme is a subsidy modality aimed at individual Projects of international promotion, thanks to which IDEPA (Economic Development Institute of the Principality of Asturias) supports the international promotion and market diversification of companies in the Principality of Asturias. Thanks to this programme, NEOALGAE will carry out its strategy to increase and consolidate in the market, as well as to strengthen its international presence during 2018.

NEOALGAE started its online presence at a national level through the Amazon Marketplace in the second half of 2017. During that year, it has positioned itself nationally by creating and positioning 13 products in Amazon.es, creating the brands Neoalgae and Alskin, as well as its store in the marketplace. Due to the success in its online presence nationally, the internationalisation plan for 2018 includes three main strategic actions to enhance the international implementation of the company through the online channel: Definition of online strategy Work positioning in e-marketplace Advertising campaigns. This project is co-financed by both the Government of the Principality of Asturias through IDEPA, and by the European Union through the ERDF.

GO MICOALGA-FEED.

Reduction of antibiotics in livestock through a natural diet based on the use of fungi and algae.

Innovation project 80% co-funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) of the European Union and 20% by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, within the framework of the National Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. The General Directorate of Rural Development, Innovation and Agrifood Training (GDRDIAT) is the authority in charge of the application of this aids. Total budget: €524,847.66. Total grant: €505,519.66.

The project

MICOALGA-FEED is a supra-autonomous Operating Group whose purpose is to reduce or eliminate the use of antibiotics in livestock through a natural diet based on fungi and algae.

The project arises from the need to seek innovative alternatives to the excessive use of antibiotics in livestock, where, worldwide, an increase in its application of 67% between 2010 and 2030 is expected. Society, increasingly aware of well-being animal, demands sustainable and quality products. MICOALGA-FEED proposes to reduce the amount of antibiotics in livestock through food. New feed supplemented with ingredients obtained from the cultivation of fungi and microalgae that have antibiotic, immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory capacity will be developed.

To achieve this, MICOALGA-FEED has set the following specific objectives:

Design and develop functional raw materials based on fungi and microalgae for the livestock sector.

The ingredients (and combinations of them) based on fungi and microalgae with the greatest potential will be selected and manufactured.

To evaluate in vitro the antimicrobial, immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory capacity, and to analytically characterize the ingredients and formulated feed.

Through a battery of in vitro tests, which include simulation of the avian digestive system, the antimicrobial, immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory capacity of ingredients based on fungi and microalgae, as well as feed supplemented with said ingredients, will be evaluated. Based on these tests, the amount to be added of each ingredient will be calculated so that it maintains its effectiveness after the necessary treatments for the manufacture of the feed. Finally, the ingredients and feeds selected for their greater efficacy will be analytically characterized.

To evaluate in vivo the efficacy of feed in an experimental poultry farm.

Productive, epidemiological, clinical controls and the status of the birds’ immune system will be carried out. Based on the results obtained, the feed will be selected and classified by degree of effectiveness.

Operative Groups

The Operational Groups, main actors in the implementation of the AEI-Agri (European Association for Innovation in productive and sustainable agriculture), are one of the key tools in the execution of the National Rural Development Program 2014-2020 to promote innovation in the agri-food and forestry sector within the European sphere. It is about the grouping of agents of different profiles with common interests, such as farmers, ranchers, companies, research centers or training and dissemination centers, who are associated to launch an innovation project in order to give a joint response and multisectoral to a problem or need.

For more information about Operational Groups:

Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Commission: https://ec.europa.eu/info/food-farming-fisheries_es
National Rural Development Program 2014-2020: http://www.redruralnacional.es/desarrollo-rural/programas-de-desarrollo-rural

Partners

To carry out this initiative, MICOALGA-FEED is made up of a multidisciplinary team that has a total of 12 participants among applicant members, subcontractors and collaborators.

Requesting Members

Galician University Business Foundation (FEUGA), representative of the Operative Group.
Hifas Veterinary, S.L.
Neoalgae Micro Seaweed Products, S.L.N.E.
UVESA Group.

Outsourced Members

AINIA Technological Center.
University of Vigo (Biomass and Sustainable Development Research Group).
Institute for Research and Food Technologies (IRTA).
University of Oviedo (Department of Biology of Organisms and Systems).

Collaborating members

Spanish Association of Poultry Science (AECA), Spanish branch of the World Poultry Science Association (WPSA).
Spanish Foundation for the Development of Animal Nutrition (FEDNA)
Spanish Confederation of Compound Feed Manufacturers for Companion Animals (CESFAC)
Spanish Interprofessional Association of Poultry Meat (AVIANZA)
Web and RRSS

More information about MICOALGA-FEED on the project website:

www.micoalga-feed.es

Also in the RRSS:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Grupo-Operativo-Micoalga-Feed-109323114755661
Twitter: https://twitter.com/micoalga 
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/micoalga-feed/ 

LIFE ALGARBBE

microALGae with ARomatic plants as Biostimulants with Biocide Effect

The main objective of the LIFE ALGAR-BBE project is to mitigate the adverse effects on the environment and human health of the chemical pesticides currently used in the harvesting of tomatoes and corn. The efficacy of 3 safe and sustainable natural formulations with biostimulant capacity and biocide action will be demonstrated. The active materials will be obtained from microalgae, aromatic plant extracts and olive residues (such as olive stones) and residual Spirulina biomass after extraction of the phycocyan pigment, which will make it possible to replace traditional fertilisers and chemical pesticides used in agriculture.
The developed formulations may be marketed in the EU in the post-project stages. With the expected results of this project, 56% of the pesticides currently used for the diseases and pests identified for the project crops will be substitutable. The main crops studied will be industrial tomato and maise. Still, the replicability of the results will also be addressed, applying those developed in similar circumstances in other EU countries (Portugal) and other crops such as pepper and potato.
The project, led by NEOALGAE, has the participation of ENDESA, a leading company in the Spanish electricity sector and the second-largest operator in the Portuguese electricity market, and the National Agro-Food Technology Centre of Extremadura (CTAEX). The European Union finances this project through the LIFE Programme. The Environment and Climate Action Programme (LIFE) is the European Union’s financial instrument dedicated to the environment and was created in 1992. It has a budget for the current 2014-2020 funding period of 3.4 billion euros. Its overall objective is to catalyse change in policy development and implementation by providing solutions and best practice to achieve environmental and climate goals, and by promoting innovative environmental and climate change technologies.
It must also support the implementation of the Union’s General Environment Programme until 2020 “Living well, respecting the limits of our planet”. For more information: info@algarbbe.eu (+34 984 041 266)

VOPSA 2.0

Obtaining Omega-3 and Astaxanthin from microalgae, for their incorporation into cosmetic formulations.

Financed by:

Omega-3 is an essential fatty acid that the body needs for its proper functioning. It protects from cardiovascular diseases and improves the development and functioning of the skin, as well as the nervous and visual systems. Astaxanthin is a carotenoid pigment and is one of the most effective antioxidants for human health.

The global demand for omega-3 and astaxanthin for human consumption will require large quantities of these products. However, their traditional extraction process from marine organisms (mainly fish and krill) is not sustainable: overfishing, high energy, raw material consumption and low efficiency. Neoalgae has designed an eco-innovative and sustainable industrial bioprocess for obtaining omega-3 and astaxanthin using marine microalgae as a natural source.

This system is the answer to the growing demand for omega-3 and astaxanthin, especially in nutraceutical, cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications. With the new process, the production of omega-3 and astaxanthin will not affect marine resources. Both products will be free of contaminants, tasteless and odourless, suitable for vegans, and with competitive and stable production costs.

After the viability of the new products has been demonstrated at a technical and market level, this project will increase the scale of production of both compounds and demonstrate their effectiveness through their inclusion in nutraceuticals and new cosmetic products for the prevention and care of skin disorders such as acne, atopic skin and ageing. The company Bicosome will be in charge of this part. The European Union has financed this project within the program “Horizon 2020 dedicated SME Instrument 2016-2017”.

DIMASKIN EUROSTARS

Obtaining Omega-3 and Astaxanthin from microalgae, for their incorporation into cosmetic formulations.

Financed by

The omega-3 fatty acids -DHA and EPA-, arachidonic acid and astaxanthin, are incredibly potent antioxidants and/or anti-inflammatories, increasing their attractiveness for high-end cosmetic preparations. Antioxidants are commonly used in dermatological products. However, these compounds have poor stability in topical formulations if not formulated in suitable systems, as they are rapidly inactivated. Given these premises, the cosmetic product offered by the DIMASKIN project can satisfy the needs and trends of the current market.

The main product of the project -BICOMEGA- contains natural ingredients from the harvesting and growth of microalgae -DHA/EPA, arachidonic acid and astaxanthin- obtained through an eco-sustainable and environmentally friendly process.

This encapsulation and release technology is highly innovative, versatile and adaptable since it combines nanotechnology processes and natural biology -lipid nanocapsules similar to the cell bi-layer- that allow modulation of the skin’s natural barrier and a high degree of penetration and cell retention, favouring a long-term effect of the cosmetic. These guidelines are entirely in line with the requirements of cosmetic trends in general, and in particular with the strict demands of the highest quality cosmetics and brands on the market, premium and super-premium products.

This project has received funding from the Eurostars-2 joint programme with co-funding from the CDTI and the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Framework Programme

AQUAINVAD-ED

Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are on the rise due to the synergistic effects of climate change and the destruction of their habitats. The impacts of AIS on biodiversity, human health, and the loss of ecosystem services are well known, but their control and management have become a priority worldwide.

The successful management of IACs is a challenge, as it requires several successive steps: early detection, identification of introduction routes and pathways, and the development of efficient control measures. The main objective of AQUAINVAD-ED research is to develop innovative methods for the early detection, control and management of IACs. This will be achieved through a multidisciplinary network of experts in invasive biology, aquatic biotechnology, public science and environmental policy, from three different countries.

The team is made up of staff from three universities, one technology institute, two government agencies, one non-governmental organisation and five SMEs. AQUAINVAD-ED will catalyse research and commercial activity in the detection and management of IACs, as well as in the application of codes of good practice for European industry and government agencies. http://www.aquainvaded.com

This project has received EU funding under the Marie-Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 642197″

LEDALGAE

The LEDALGAE project aims to develop a novel and sustainable process (in which no toxic substances are used and environmentally friendly extraction methods permitted in food will be tested) for the industrialised production of astaxanthin from Haematococcus pluvialis.

For this purpose, a unit based on the Danube Photobioreactor (ID 20131141 and patent WO 2013132117 A1) will be designed, incorporating a luminescent system that includes molecular energy cascade systems and that will allow the harvesting process for both phases (green and red) to be carried out in a single unit, achieving an increase in productivity and optimising the growing conditions, to later carry out the extraction process using Supercritical Fluids (SCF), as the most efficient and sustainable system at present, obtaining a high-quality final product suitable for use in sectors such as nutraceuticals, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. 
This project affects a tremendously new sector, which is undergoing spectacular growth worldwide and, in Spain, there is no company operating in the production phase of astaxanthin. https://www.cdti.es/index.asp?MP=7&MS=651&MN=3. This project has been subsidised by the CDTI, with the support of the Spain Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness.

MIDMAE

APPLICATION OF MICROALGAE ASTAXANTHIN IN MACULAR DEGENERATION

Astaxanthin (a fat-soluble carotenoid found in the microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis) is an antioxidant that is ten times stronger than beta-carotene and up to 500 times stronger than vitamin E. Astaxanthin neutralises free radicals, fighting age-related diseases such as macular degeneration (AMD) by preventing the proliferation of these unstable molecules.

The MIDMAE project will study the properties of astaxanthin produced in Asturias based on its antioxidant properties for application in eye problems

RECO2VERY

The European waste treatment industries have to face the transition to a “green economy“, where the energy use of waste is given priority over its disposal in landfills, and the impact of their activities is reduced to a minimum. Given this new context, the ReCO2very project has emerged as a strategic R&D project, whose purpose is the development, integration and validation of new technologies that will lay the foundations for the future development of Green Incineration.

The ReCO2very project proposes the use of CO2 emissions from a waste incineration plant and of the polluted water to cultivate microalgae suitable for subsequent use as raw material for the production of biofuels and/or biogas production through anaerobic digestion as the primary means of exploitation. It proposes the challenge of integrating a real incineration system with the harvesting of microalgae through a process of separation and concentration of CO2 from the combustion gases. Also, the harvesting system will receive waste effluents from the waste treatment facilities (leachates, permeate, drains) as a food supplier for the microalgae.

MARBIOFEED

Shellfish production sites in the EU are prone to closures due to the accumulation of biotoxins. Other impacts are exerted on aquaculture fish when they are fed with contaminated shellfish.

The objective of this proposal is to isolate large amounts of biotoxins using improved biorefinery methods for the preparation of reference materials to allow research on the effects of biotoxins in aquaculture.

Another part of the work will focus on improving the production of microalgae as fish feed. http://www.marinebiotech.eu/enhanced-biorefining-methods-production-marine-biotoxins-and-microalgae-fish-feed-marbiofeed

PHYTOIL

This project is based on producing an oil enriched in high-value fatty acids, especially omega-3, from autotrophic microalgae cultures, under controlled conditions so that the final product developed is ready at all levels for both food and nutraceutical use. The decision to opt for this type of source and culture is made based on the company’s experience in this field, adding to this the high content of this type of fatty acids that certain microalgae have, the latter also being the only original sources.

The product to be obtained under the auspices of the PHYTOIL project will be focused on the agri-food and nutraceutical sector. More specifically, the resulting product will be directed towards all-new functional food products, i.e. using a small amount of oil, one of the Health Claims approved by the European Union for products containing omega-3 could be used.

EBT PROJECT PHASE 2

Plan for the promotion and marketing of algae extract rich in high-value oil (omega-3) and aimed at animal feed

Financed by
Financed by IDEPA

Within the framework of this project, Neoalgaep aims to put into value and launch to the market the results of the R&D project developed by the company through which a new process of obtaining a product rich in omega-3 from the harvesting of microalgae was achieved.

It can be used for the formulation of food supplements for the manufacture of animal feed, improving the health of the animal and the quality of the food produced (meat, milk, eggs, etc.).

As a result of the project, Neoalgae has achieved an end product with a concentration of omega-3 five times higher than that of fish oil. As part of this project has also developed this new website and all the design of a new corporate image of the company.

SPRAY DRYER

Development of a new system for drying microalgae by spraying

Financed by
Financed by IDEPA

The main objective of the present project is to develop a new system for drying microalgae by spraying, which will allow obtaining the final product (microalgae freeze-drying) from the mother paste and without the need of intermediate processes. The following individual targets will be necessary to achieve this general objective:

  • Get a conceptual definition of the new system to be developed.
  • Carry out the thermal and hydraulic sizing of the system based on the design criteria and utility of the final product.
  • To develop the detailed engineering of the product that allows establishing the subsequent manufacturing sequence (drawings, materials, etc.).
  • Carry out the manufacture and integration of components.
  • Validate the operation of the system in real environments

INOALgASTUR

Financed by

The objective of the INOALgASTUR project is the development and commercialisation of a new and affordable photobioreactor, called AlgaChef, suitable for the harvesting of the microalgae Spirulina, with adequate dimensions to be incorporated into professional kitchens (catering sector) due to its design and flexibility of operation, to obtain fresh pasta for the preparation of healthy dishes and drinks in situ.

This newly designed harvesting system consists of a small, autonomous, smart and sustainable photobioreactor, which has low consumption artificial LED light. Inside it, cultures of the Spirulina microalgae species will be developed, so that fresh pasta can be used either directly in salads, fresh vegetables, energy shakes, or by cooking and preparing more elaborate dishes by the kitchen staff themselves.

The new prototype will be small in size to optimise the space in the kitchen, easy to handle to achieve a clean, direct and straightforward use, being able to control the amount of fresh pasta to extract according to the demand requested, within the possibilities that the crop itself offers.

Low consumption LED’s will be incorporated to allow for the most excellent possible availability of biomass without compromising the sustainability of the system. In this way, the INOALgASTUR project will incorporate technological innovations to the traditional method of harvesting of the Spirulina microalgae.

The result will be a new, low-cost and easy-to-operate harvesting system, adapted to the catering industry, with an optimised design to obtain maximum performance in the minimum possible space. In other words, the prototype will be functional and sustainable equipment of reduced size and direct installation in any place of restoration for fast and direct use of the microalgae in the obtaining of the fresh pasta to be used in the kitchens by the qualified personnel.

Value Omega 3 products from sea algae (VOPSA)

This is an SME Horizon aid for 2015, from the State Business Leadership Program in the framework of the State Plan for Scientific and Technical Research and Innovation 2013-2016, called by the State Secretariat for Research, Development and Innovation, to submit the VOPSA project to phase II of the SME Instrument (HORIZONTE 2020).

The main objective of this project is the extraction of omega-3 with a purity of more than 90% from algae (instead of fish) on an industrial scale and as by-product biomass enriched in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, proteins that can be used as raw material for cosmetic products.

The project identifies clients and target users (food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry) of a product that is called to have a high impact at a global level, and that would be exploited by NEOALGAE. It is a very competitive product from an economic point of view with a high impact on the worldwide market due to the great demand of society for omega-3.