MARBioFEED – enhanced biorefining methods for the production of marine biotoxins and microalgae fish feed

MARBioFEED is a three year project (commencing in 2016) supported by the First Call for Transnational Research Projects within the Marine Biotechnology ERA-NET.   The project involves large-scale algal biotechnology for the... [ view full abstract ]

MARBioFEED is a three year project (commencing in 2016) supported by the First Call for Transnational Research Projects within the Marine Biotechnology ERA-NET.   

The project involves large-scale algal biotechnology for the production of value-added products – marine biotoxin reference materials and fish feed.

Most shellfish production sites in Europe are prone to closures due to the accumulation of biotoxins produced by certain phytoplankton. Over 26 EU-regulated toxins currently require statutory monitoring and new toxins are emerging. One element of the project will focus on the regulated okadaic acid group, azaspiracids and domoic acid toxins. Sourcing of naturally contaminated shellfish, bulk algal culturing, harvesting of algal blooms in situ and enzymatic conversions will be performed to source toxins of importance. The development and use of novel immunoaffinity and polymeric columns will be investigated to enhance purification efficiencies to reduce cost and increase economic viability.

Fish feed typically made from fishmeal and fish is unsustainable and expensive to produce. This element of the project will focus on enhancing bulk culturing processes of microalgae for the production of highly nutritious and economically viable fish feed. Microalgae provide an excellent alternative to fishmeal, having exceptional nutritional value. Medium/small scale culturing of microalgae will be performed to determine optimum growth and nutrition with subsequent transfer of technologies to large scale culturing using 1,200 L photobioreactors. Harvested materials can then be formulated to produce fish feed.

Project objectives and progress will be presented.