SUPRALEM

Objective

The main objective of this project is to research lemna and microalgae cultivation and processing technologies to obtain new ingredients that are more environmentally sustainable and have improved nutritional and/or technological characteristics.

Activities

1. Evaluation of cultivation techniques to improve the chemical composition of aquatic biomasses.
2. Development of vertical lemna cultivation techniques and monitoring of its growth
3. Pretreatments and extraction of fractions of interest
4. Development of ingredients from lemna fractions
5. Transfer of results
6. Dissemination and communication

Results

• Mineral fortification processes (Fe and Mg) in lemna and microalgae biomasses and Mn defortification in lemna biomass. Likewise, the biochemical characteristics of both biomasses have been modified and improved through dynamic lighting technologies.
• Design and obtaining of targeted and untargeted metabolomics methods using LC-MS/MS for the study of high-value compounds in lemna and microalgae.
• Design and fine-tuning of the vertical lemna cultivation pilot plant with an artificial vision system installed for crop monitoring.
• Definition of pretreatment processes and establishment of biorefineries to obtain protein extracts from the liquid fraction and micro- and nanocelluloses from the solid fraction.
• Solid-state fermentation technologies for organoleptic modification (reduction of off-flavors) in lemna and microalgae ingredients.

Dissemination/Transfer

• Project poster

Press releases

• AINIA will develop 13 new R&D projects funded by IVACE
• AINIA researches the production of functional ingredients from aquatic biomasses
• AINIA highlights the importance of consumers in the European Green Capital
• AINIA promotes the development of new sources of plant proteins with the Supralem project

Dissemination articles

• Optimising the production of functional ingredients from duckweed and microalgae
• Innovation workshops: Technology transfer and collaborative R&D projects
• Advances and challenges in the plant-based food sector
• Innovative and sustainable technologies for the production of improved biomasses

Media

• Interview with David Suárez, Head of Environmental Projects at AINIA, about the SUPRALEM Project on the La Trilla programme on Capital Radio

Internal communication

• We have submitted 13 proposals to the IVACE-FEDER 2023 Aid call and one to the DGI
• 6 IVACE FEDER projects we are working on this year have just been completed. We share the videos and/or articles on the project results

Photo and video

• SUPRALEM: Innovative and sustainable technologies for the production of improved biomasses
• SUPRALEM photo session