Exploring Sustainable Microalgae Cultivation
Researchers in the MASSPROVIT project are exploring the potential of microalgae cultivation - microscopic algae rich in proteins, vitamins, and omega-3 fatty acids. We spoke with Professor Charlotte Jacobsen, Professor Poul Erik Jensen, Professor Marianne Thomsen, Emil Gundersen and Malene Fog Lihme Olsen to learn more about this promising area of research.
As the global population approaches 10 billion by 2050, the demand for sustainable, resource-efficient, and environmentally friendly food production systems is becoming increasingly critical. Traditional agricultural methods place significant strain on resources such as land, water, and energy, highlighting the urgent need for innovative solutions. Microalgae offer a highly promising alternative, with their potential to provide essential nutrients while minimising environmental impact. Over the past 70 years, microalgae have repeatedly attracted attention as a valuable resource for food, biofuels, and high-value bioproducts. Thanks to their high productivity compared to traditional crops, their ability to grow in seawater, and their minimal land use requirements, microalgae stand out as an environmentally efficient option.
The first large-scale efforts to industrialise microalgae for food purposes began during World War II in Germany, when food security was a pressing concern. In the 1970s, applications expanded to include wastewater purification and aquaculture feeds, further establishing the potential of microalgae in industrial processes. More recently, the global demand for sustainable sources of protein and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) has reignited interest in microalgae production, with companies and research institutions now focusing on microalgae as a potential replacement for meat and soy protein, as well as a source of bioactive compounds for the nutraceutical market.
In this context, the MASSPROVIT project emerges as a key initiative aimed at advancing the sustainable cultivation of microalgae using foodgrade industrial side streams. Researchers from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and University of Copenhagen (UCPH) have, within two years of intensive research, explored the feasibility of using process water from industrial enzyme production to cultivate Nannochloropsis oceanica, a microalgae species renowned for its rich nutritional profile, which includes PUFAs, vitamins, and essential amino acids. The MASSPROVIT project aims to assess the effects of incorporating these industrial by-products on algal growth and the nutritional quality of the biomass, focusing on optimising the production process and improving the environmental sustainability of microalgae cultivation.
The MASSPROVIT project has two overarching objectives: first, to enable the sustainable, local Danish production of microalgae as a novel source of non-animal protein and health-promoting compounds such as omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins; and second, to provide proof of concept for a lowfootprint, protein-rich microalgae biomass that could potentially reduce Denmark’s reliance on imported, emission-intensive protein sources.
Findings on Growth Performance and Nutritional Quality
As part of the MASSPROVIT project, the researchers tested two different industrial side streams to evaluate their suitability as partial replacements for commercial nutrient supplements in microalgae cultivation. The study revealed that one of the side streams, referred to as SS1, was capable of replacing up to 40% of the commercial nutrient supplement without negatively impacting algal growth or the nutritional quality of the biomass. SS1 was found to have a high concentration of inorganic nitrogen, primarily in the form of ammonium, which was readily assimilated by Nannochloropsis oceanica. Moreover, the nitrogen-to-phosphorous ratio (NPR) in SS1 closely matched that of commercial nutrients, supporting its use as an efficient and sustainable alternative.
In contrast, the second side stream, SS2, caused a significant reduction in both growth and omega-3 fatty acid content, even at a 20% replacement level. The lower NPR and nutrient content in SS2, along with potential growthinhibiting compounds, were likely responsible for the reduced performance. These findings, while highlighting the potential of industrial side streams like SS1, also underscore the challenges of optimising nutrient formulations in microalgae cultivation, a key focus of the ongoing MASSPROVIT project.
Environmental and Economic Implications
A critical aspect of the MASSPROVIT project is its focus on the environmental and economic benefits of integrating food-grade industrial side streams into microalgae cultivation. The use of these side streams has the potential to
significantly reduce the resource footprint and production costs of microalgae-based food ingredients. By optimising side stream usage, the project aims to replace synthetic fertilisers, which are energy-intensive to produce and contribute to the environmental burden of agriculture. This is particularly important given the long-term sustainability concerns surrounding nitrogen fertilisers produced via the energy-intensive Haber-Bosch process, as well as the depleting global reserves of phosphate rock. Moreover, the MASSPROVIT project demonstrates that microalgae can be cultivated on non-arable land and with non-potable water, reducing the strain on freshwater resources and agricultural land. Microalgae offer a significantly higher area of productivity than most traditional plant crops, making them a more efficient option for future food production systems. By unlocking the potential of industrial side streams, MASSPROVIT seeks to address the pressing challenge of producing sufficient nutritious food in a resource-constrained world, while minimising environmental degradation.
MASSPROVIT project is exploring such innovative approaches to enhance the overall efficiency of microalgae cultivation.
Challenges and Future Directions
While the MASSPROVIT project highlights the potential of using industrial side streams for sustainable microalgae cultivation, several challenges persist. One key issue is the digestibility of microalgae biomass for human consumption. Although microalgae offer a wealth of nutrients, current processing methods may not fully address the bioavailability of these nutrients. Future research, including ongoing efforts within the MASSPROVIT project, is focused on refining processing techniques to improve the digestibility and nutritional quality of microalgae-based food products. Additionally, large-scale cultivation and the development of controlled, high-tech systems remain critical hurdles in the transition from research to market. As part of the MASSPROVIT project, ongoing investigations are examining zero-emission industrial systems that use upcycled water and LED
“By unlocking the potential of industrial side streams, MASSPROVIT seeks to address the pressing challenge of producing sufficient nutritious food in a resourceconstrained world, while minimising environmental degradation.”
Hypes and Hopes in Microalgae Production
Over the decades, microalgae have periodically gained and lost attention as industrial solutions to various global challenges, from food production during World War II to biofuels during the peak oil crisis. Despite fluctuations in interest, each wave of innovation has brought significant advancements in cultivation technologies. These advancements have enabled the development of raceways for wastewater treatment in the 1970s and, more recently, improvements in the production of bulk products such as singlecell protein (SCP), oils, and pigments. The MASSPROVIT project builds on this legacy, seeking to refine microalgae cultivation methods to make them more efficient and sustainable. Nonetheless, significant challenges remain. While SCP production offers high yields, the associated costs—including those linked to low biomass concentrations, oxygen inhibition, and the energy demands for mixing and degassing in phototrophic systems—remain formidable obstacles. Emerging cultivation strategies, such as oxygen-balanced mixotrophy (OBM), offer promising solutions by recycling oxygen and carbon dioxide within the system, thereby reducing the need for external inputs. The
lighting to further reduce the carbon footprint of microalgae production. The project is also exploring the potential of forward genetics and high-throughput screening to address current gaps in understanding microalgae metabolism, which could pave the way for strain improvement through genetic engineering.
The MASSPROVIT project underscores the feasibility of using food-grade industrial side streams as a viable strategy for enhancing the sustainability of microalgae cultivation. The positive impact of SS1 on growth and nutritional quality highlights the potential for integrating industrial by-products into microalgae production processes. Continued research within the MASSPROVIT framework will be essential for optimising side stream compositions and scaling up cultivation techniques to maximise the environmental and economic benefits.
As the world seeks more sustainable food production solutions, the insights gained from the MASSPROVIT project contribute to the broader goal of developing eco-efficient systems that can meet the growing demand for nutritious food while minimising environmental impacts. Through innovations in microalgae cultivation, the project is helping to build a more sustainable future for global food systems.
MASSPROVIT
Making microalgae a sustainable future source of proteins and vitamins
Project Objectives
The MASSPROVIT project has two overarching objectives: first, to enable the sustainable, local Danish production of microalgae as a novel source of non-animal protein and healthpromoting compounds such as omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins; and second, to provide proof of concept for a low-footprint, proteinrich microalgae biomass that could potentially reduce Denmark’s reliance on imported, emission-intensive protein sources.
Project Funding
Funded by The Independent Research Fund Denmark. Grant number: 1127 – 0261B
Project Partners
Technical University of Denmark and University of Copenhagen.
Contact Details
Project Coordinator, Professor Charlotte Jacobsen, Ph.D. Technical University of Denmark Head of Research Group for Bioactives –Analysis and Application
Henrik Dams Allé
Building 201, room 130 2800 Kgs. Lyngby
Denmark
T: +45 23 27 90 75
E: chja@food.dtu.dk
W: https://orbit.dtu.dk/en/persons/charlottemunch-jacobsen
Charlotte Jacobsen, Ph.D. is professor in Bioactives – Analysis and Application. She is internationally renowned for her research in lipid oxidation of omega-3 rich foods and she has received several awards including the Danish Danisco price 2003, the French La Médaille Chevreul 2010, the German DGF Normann Medaille 2020, the Stephen S. Chang award (2021), AOCS Fellow (2022), European Lipid Science Technology award (2023), Knights Cross of the Dannebrog Order. Her publication list includes more than 290 peer-reviewed manuscripts and book chapters.
Professor Charlotte Jacobsen, Ph.D. is the main supervisor of Emil Gundersen and Professor Poul Erik Jensen is the supervisor of Malene Lihme Olsen.
