The fast-growing aquaculture and seafood processing industries generate large volumes of nutrient-rich residual water. Current methods for treating residual water are very expensive and energy-intensive. At the same time, there is increasing demand for new and sustainable resources for the production of food, materials and energy.
Professor Cornelia Spetea Wiklund from the University of Gothenburg is leading a new research project, SEAlgeaPower, which brings together leading universities, research institutes, industry partners and innovation experts to develop innovative technologies that convert industrial residual water from aquaculture and the seafood industry into valuable, sustainable products. The project addresses these challenges by harnessing the natural ability of microalgae to capture and recycle nutrients.
Double challenge
The project will design and demonstrate innovative systems that purify residual water while producing biomass for new products such as fish feed, food ingredients, fertilisers, dietary supplements, pharmaceuticals and fibre materials for medical applications.
"Our goal is to turn a cost into an income. By linking aquaculture with algae cultivation, we can reduce environmental impact, recycle valuable nutrients and create new market opportunities for sustainable blue growth," says Cornelia Spetea Wiklund, professor at the University of Gothenburg and coordinator of SEAlgaePower.
SEAlgaePower explores two major research questions:
1. How can marine microalgae from the North Sea and the Mediterranean be used to clean nutrient-rich wastewater from aquaculture and the seafood industry?
2. How can the resulting biomass be transformed into sustainable, bio-based ingredients for multiple industrial sectors?
By combining expertise in marine biotechnology, biorefining, circular value chains and sustainability assessment, the project will promote the latest technology in blue biotechnology and contribute directly to the EU's Green Deal and zero waste goals.
The project partners not only consist of cutting-edge research at various universities, but also have a direct link to industry through industry partners Klädesholmen Seafood and Ragn-Sells Havbruk, which provide real waste water streams and validation environments.
Expected results
Over the next three years, SEAlgaePower will:
- Identify microalgae species that are adapted to Nordic and Mediterranean waters and suitable for cultivation in aquaculture and process water.
- Demonstrate >90% nutrient uptake and sustainable biomass production.
- Develop protocols for proteins, omega-3 oils, pigments and polysaccharides.
- Develop prototypes/ingredients for food, feed, fertilisers, dietary supplements, pharmaceuticals and MedTech applications.
- Assess environmental, social and economic performance to guide responsible upscaling.
– By closing the loop between primary and secondary seafood production on the one hand and algae cultivation on the other, we aim to contribute to establishing a climate-neutral and sustainable blue economy for Europe,’ says Cornelia Spetea Wiklund.
Funding
The project is co-funded by the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership – Horizon Europe (SBEP2024-558) and Formas (Ref. No. 2024-02716).
