Production of microalgae to obtain high added value products.

• Grant number: 24/18089-2
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: June 01, 2025
• End date: May 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Botany - Applied Botany
• Principal Investigator: Flávia Bottino
• Grantee: Flávia Bottino
• Company: Bottino Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento em Biotecnologia Inova Simples
• CNAE: Pesquisa e desenvolvimento experimental em ciências físicas e naturais
• City: Araraquara
• Associated research grant: 22/16028-0 - Biorefinery for upgrade and production increasing of biogas combined with effluent treatment, AP.PIPE

Abstract

Our main aim is to optimize the production process of high-value-added bioactives derived from microalgae to meet the agricultural and industrial market segments, also to design a model for a microalgae biorefinery to scale the production. The obtaining and activity of these bioactives was validated by the Proof of Concept (POC) carried out in PIPE Phase-1 and demonstrated evidence for the advancement of the technological cycle aiming to obtain the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) in Phase-2. The main results obtained in POC were an increase in the germination rate of vegetable and grain seeds, root size, plant growth and high concentration of carotenoids. PIPE Phase-2 will contribute to solving the technological challenges of production and scaling for multimarket service. So, key variables (nutrients, light intensity, pH and photoperiod) will be controlled to maximize the production of phytohormones and carotenoids from Chlorella biomass. Protocols for the extraction of these molecules will be established aiming at the sustainability of the system, as well as procedures for determining the stability of the bioactives. A survey will be carried out on the closed photobioreactor model that meets the physiological requirements of the Chlorella strain, considering productivity versus cost-benefit (CAPEX-OPEX) to promote Return over Investment (ROI). We will stablish partnerships and hiring specialized services to scale the production of microalgae and molecules of interest, with a projection of doubling cultivation after the company's first year of operation (initial 50 L). The initial target market is the agribusiness sector, mainly the vegetable sector, which has expenditure on fertilizers of approximately R$ 41 billion. Among the advantages of using a microalgae-based biofertilizer over the use of chemical fertilizers, we can mention the increase in the germination rate, soil conditioning, which favors the development of the microbiota, food security, among others. We established a conservative Business Plan, seeking to reach up to 1% of the market over 5 years due to the competitiveness of the sector and proposed a Marketing Plan to define Price, Place, Product and Promotion. Once sales of the product to the agricultural, the market projection for carotenoid sales will be established, as the production of this molecule requires the use of more refined extraction and purification technology. The production of a microalgae-based biofertilizer is in line with the Plano Nacional de Bioinsumos and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). (AU)