Pilot cultivation of locally isolated Dunaliella strains for the production of β-carotene (PILOUS)

Cyanolab is happy to announce that the project PILOUS «Pilot cultivation of locally isolated Dunaliella strains for the production of β-carotene» is almost ready to launch. The project is founded by the GSRT in the context of the national action: «Special Actions "Aquaculture" - "Industrial Materials" - "Open Innovation in Culture"» of the Operational Program "Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation" (EPAnEK).

Subject and Objectives of the Project

In the context of blue growth in Greece, the PILOUS project aims to implement an innovative, sustainable and holistic model of actions in the sectors of applied research and technological development towards the production of high added-value biotechnological products derived from the biomass of local species of the microalgae Dunaliella. The genus Dunaliella presents a cosmopolitan distribution, colonizing environments of high salinity, including the salt works of Greece. The flagellated cells of Dunaliella salina are the richest natural source of the beta-carotene, a substance that presents a growing commercial demand at a global level and a wide range of applications. In addition, β-carotene isolated from the biomass of Dunaliella strains, is one of the few microalgae-based ingredients that has been authorized by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) as a food ingredient.

The main processes of the project, which are depicted in the following Figure, include: [01] isolation and polyphasic characterization of Dunaliella local microalgae strains from Greek coastal aquatic ecosystems as well as the creation of monospecific (and / or axenic), mother cultures, [02] parameterization of the cultivation of Dunaliella strains on a laboratory scale to determine optimal culture conditions for increased β-carotene concentration, [03] analysis of the chemical composition of the produced biomass and developing improved extraction protocols for beta-carotene and its isomers, [04] pilot-scale cultivation of the most promising Dunaliella strain regarding its characteristics. Finally [05], a set of activities will also take place in order to disseminate the progress and results of the project through the implementation of a targeted communication policy aiming at constantly informing the Greek cosmetic, pharmaceutical and food supplements industry, creating favourable conditions for the commercial exploitation of the know-how developed during this project.

Figure 1. The main processes of the PILOUS project

The primary objectives of the PILOUS Project include:

• Exploration and exploitation of the country's natural resources to produce biotechnological products of high added value
• Development of know-how in Greece regarding the specialized cultivation of photosynthetic micro-organisms and the exploitation of their biotechnological potential
• Creation of a set of tools (microalgae strains with improved characteristics, specialized cultivation and extraction protocols for β-carotene production etc.) available to potential stakeholders for the creation of the first Greek unit of β-carotene production from Dunaliella sp.
• Development of the technological maturity needed for the entry of new aquaculture species in Greece with wide range applications
• Exploration of the diversity of the genus Dunaliella in the coastal aquatic ecosystems of Greece
• Identification and isolation of local Dunaliella strains as well as their deposition in the TAU-MAC open-access microalgae culture collection of Aristotle University of Greece
• Creation of jobs for young specialist scientists in the country

The approximate publications dates of PILOUS project deliverables are given in the following Table. The project deliverables will be published on the official website of the project that will be created in the near future, while through this website will be announced the publication of each deliverable, accompanied by an electronic link which will redirect the visitors to the official website of the project. Finally, it is worth noting that all the project deliverables will be available free of charge to all businesses operating in the aquaculture sector of microalgae.