During the production of its premium food products, Algolesko generates 30% of non-recovered byproducts. The valorisation of this biomass is important in the current context of scarcity of resources and reach zero waste goal and circular concepts.
Algolesko and Ivamer launched the ALGOVALO, winner in the innovation category of the European B Resilient call for projects, initiated by several clusters including Valorial.
Algolesko, seaweed farmer and processor has the largest seaweed cultivation areas in France (360 hectares). Since 2013 the company has been developing premium food products where seaweeds are vegetables or a condiment targeted mainly food industry. The recovery of seaweed byproducts will enable Algolesko to secure its production. Indeed, with a total valorization of this resource, Algolesko will be able to offer a range of more competitive products.
Ivamer is a company specializing in the development of marine resources. They have strong expertise in enzymatic hydrolysis and the valorisation of byproducts. Ivamer and Algolesko are joining forces in this project to develop a method to valorise byproducts from the production and processing of seaweed into biobased ingredients.
The ALGOVALO project objective is to design and implement a demonstrator allowing the recovery of large volumes of cultured seaweed by-products by hydrolysis to address high added value market. This development is part of a desire to produce products with a low environmental impact and without wastes. The development of such technology will pave the way for the development and resilience of the seaweed industry in France and Europe.
Algolesko will provide its know-how on the engineering and installation of culture structures, as well as on the seeding of seaweed and their monitoring. Algolesko has a processing line with different washing, bleaching and cutting tools. As part of this project, Algolesko will be involved in the produce the seaweed biomass needed for the project and the pre-transform the seaweed by-products according to the different test.
Ivamer have developed very specific expertise in the development and optimization of hydrolysis processes from the state of the art to define the hydrolysis conditions up to optimization on a pre-industrial scale (several tons). As part of this project, Ivamer will be involved in enzymatic hydrolysis test and market structure and potential for seaweed byproducts identified.
Algolesko has cultivation area not yet exploited. The exploitation of this new area will generate large volumes of byproducts that are required for the development of these new products from hydrolysis process. The recovery of seaweed byproducts will enable Algolesko to secure its production. Indeed, with a total valorization of this resource, Algolesko will be able to offer a range of more competitive products.
This is also part of the desire to promote French-grown seaweed in products with high added value, which stands out from imports, often from Asia with traceability and quality problems.
This project will also allow Ivamer to gain expertise on seaweed enzymatic hydrolysis to access new markets.
“B-Resilient allowed us to work on a recovering our seaweed byproducts thanks to Ivamer expertise and help. The support of this European project we help us to work on this strategic subject.”