Sustainable heterotrophic algae production using renewable nutrient sources

The SHAPE project proposes a radical transformation of the microalgae biotechnology sector by replacing conventional photoautotrophic cultivation with heterotrophic production in the dark. This innovative strategy seeks to overcome current limitations of high variability and high costs through the use of renewable nutrients derived from food industry co-products, such as whey or aquafaba, under a circular biorefinery model with a zero-waste approach. The main objectives include increasing areal productivity tenfold and reducing water consumption by 80% by preventing evaporation, thereby also standardizing biomass quality by reducing variability in batch composition from 30% to less than 5%. The project, which will be validated at the SABANA demonstration plant using fermenters of up to 1000 liters to ensure its industrial scalability, aims to significantly improve consumer acceptance by producing biomass with milder and more neutral organoleptic profiles (color, odor, and flavor). In doing so, SHAPE seeks to open new high-value-added markets by developing techno-functional ingredients with thickening or foaming properties, nutricosmetics with anti-aging activity, and functional foods enriched with proteins, fibers, and bioactive compounds with antihypertensive and antidiabetic properties.