BIOVAL RESEARCH
Microalgal BIOmass VALorization For Sustainable Production Of Functional Food And Feed Ingredients
Advancing the scientific exploitation of microalgae to transform food and feed systems across Europe through sustainable, high-impact solutions.
The Sustainable Future of Microalgae
The food industry is increasingly seeking new nutraceutical ingredients from sustainable natural sources to help prevent metabolic syndrome and related chronic diseases. Among them, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs) such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) stand out for their proven benefits against inflammation and cardiovascular disorders. To boost their effectiveness and bioavailability, ω-3 PUFAs are formulated in several forms, including ethyl esters, triacylglycerides (TAGs), free fatty acids, phospholipids and monoacylglycerides (MAGs), with MAGs often showing superior absorption. Thanks to these properties, MAGs are already widely used as food additives (E471) and as binders for controlled drug release in pharmaceutical products.
The objective of BIOVAL is to develop scalable, circular, and low-impact biorefinery solutions aiming to fully valorise microalgal biomass into safe, high-value ingredients for food and feeds for aquaculture, while minimising waste and environmental footprint.
Water savings
Microalgae productivity
Health impact
MAG market growth
>50%
56,400
tons/year
>1 billion
3.3 → 5.6 B USD
Marine microalgae cultivation eliminates freshwater use in upstream phases, cutting the water footprint compared with terrestrial biomass.
Global microalgae biomass production reached 56,400 tons in 2019 and has grown at an annual rate of 7.42%.
BIOVAL targets MAG- and PUFA-based ingredients to help prevent metabolic syndrome and related chronic diseases affecting over 1 billion people.
The global MAG market is expected to grow from 3.29 to 5.6 billion USD between 2023 and 2032, at ~6% CAGR, creating room for microalgae-derived MAGs.