Fanny Lalegerie1, Sofiia Tretiak1, Stephen Jackson2, Alan Dobson2, Sarah Hotchkiss3, Rósa Jónsdóttir4, Mattias Berglin5, Zoë A. Popper1 and Dagmar B. Stengel1
1.Botany and Plant Science, School of Natural Sciences, Ryan Institute for Environmental, Marine and Energy Research, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland; 2. School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; 3. Cybercolloids, Carrigaline, Co. Cork, Ireland; 4. Matís, Iceland and UNA Skincare, Iceland; 5. RISE, Sweden
Despite their occurrence across oceans worldwide and their recognised importance as a source of valuable molecules for industry, marine macroalgae remain an underutilised resource. With a significant and growing interest and investment across Europe, there are increasing opportunities to unlock the full potential of macroalgae. However, to be sustainable, any future intensified seaweed industry needs to be resource efficient, consider diversification and valorisation of biomass, and reduce waste. The BlueBio Cofund project MINERVA (‘Marine Innovation using Novel Enzymes for waste Reduction and Valorisation of Algal Biomass’) therefore aims to support sustainable and efficient exploitation of algal biomass across several industry sectors, using a biorefinery approach. By promoting exchanges between academia and the algal industry, developing new environmentally friendly processes that generate novel high-value products, and reducing biomass waste during harvesting and processing, MINERVA contributes to European macroalgal research within the framework of a Circular Blue Bioeconomy. Through the joint efforts of different partners from Ireland, Iceland and Sweden, the project uses omics-based approaches to generate new enzymes to treat biomass and develop new algal products for food, aquaculture, cosmetics, and biomedicine industries. Particular emphasis is given to polysaccharides, protein and phenolic contents for their antioxidant, antimicrobial, antifouling activities and/or particular physicochemical properties. With sustainability as an underpinning core principle, preliminary results feature optimised extraction processes; algal cell-wall biodegradation potential of bacterial isolates and clones obtained from brown seaweeds; and finally, evaluation of seaweed fibers and components for the food and aquaculture industries.