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Collaborative project: The aim is to achieve quality assurance of microalgae in aquaculture by developing a microfluidic measuring system - Subproject B (QuasiMA)
Project
Project code: 281E124B23
Contract period: 01.09.2025
- 31.10.2028
Budget: 160,366 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
Keywords: aquaculture, biotechnology, bioeconomy, diagnostics, animal feed, food safety, limnic organisms, other aquatic organisms
Microalgae are a renewable raw material that is used in many areas of application, from food to animal feed to cosmetics and biofuels. The biomass obtained is rich in lipids, proteins, antioxidants and other valuable substances. For example, microalgae serve as a plant-based protein source in aquaculture and animal husbandry, thus reducing the use of soy. The market for microalgae is expected to grow from 0.9 to 1.5 billion USD between 2020 and 2028. One challenge in industrial microalgae production is the contamination with pathogenic organisms (e.g. fungi, protozoa, bacteria and viruses), which can lead to significant productivity losses. This problem is increasingly recognized and various measures have been developed to protect the culture or maintain production. However, despite the measures developed, the tipping point of the culture has already been reached without a sensitive detection system. In addition, little is known about the biodiversity and the interaction of microalgae and pathogenic and probiotic organisms in a culture. The aim of the QuasiMA project is to develop an innovative, culture-independent method for identifying and characterizing microbial communities and thus to ensure quality assurance in production. An analysis workflow that begins with a culture pellet and leads to the assessment of purity via DNA extraction and qPCR is to be developed. The application in algae production will be tested in the laboratory using representative co-cultivation experiments and samples from production. At the end of the project, a standardized and automated process should be developed using centrifugal microfluidics that enables a precise and quantitative determination of purity and any contaminants.
Section overview
Subjects
- Animal nutrition
- Resource management
- Recirculation systems
Framework programme
Funding programme
Excutive institution
Funding institution
Project management agencies
Associated projects: QuasiMA
- Collaborative project: The aim is to achieve quality assurance of microalgae in aquaculture by developing a microfluidic measuring system - Subproject A
- Collaborative project: The aim is to achieve quality assurance of microalgae in aquaculture by developing a microfluidic measuring system - Subproject C
- Collaborative project: The aim is to achieve quality assurance of microalgae in aquaculture by developing a microfluidic measuring system - Subproject D
