AlgaEU
AlgaEurope 2026
4BlueTech
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Track #05
4BlueTech
Fishmeal is extracted from wild-caught fish at 20 million tonnes per year — a catch that has been flat since 1990. Algae offer a direct replacement: same amino acid profile, same omega-3 content, but produced from sunlight, CO₂, and wastewater without touching ocean populations.
DIAAS (Digestible Indispensable Amino Acid Score) is the FAO-endorsed gold standard for protein quality. A score ≥1.00 indicates complete protein. Algal proteins generally score comparable to soy and exceed other plant proteins due to high methionine and lysine content.
DIAAS values from FAO/WHO (2013), Martínez-Reyes et al. (2021 Nannochloropsis), and Becker (2007 Spirulina review). Spirulina's high protein quality is limited by lower digestibility in whole-cell preparations — cell disruption (bead milling, high-pressure homogenisation) improves digestibility by 15–25%.
| Feed Sector | Primary algal species | Inclusion rate | Key benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salmon aquafeed | Schizochytrium, Nannochloropsis | 3–8% DHA oil | DHA/EPA replacing fish oil; flesh colour maintenance |
| Shrimp / shellfish | Chaetoceros, Isochrysis | 25–100% of diet | Larval nutrition; sterol source for metamorphosis |
| Laying hens | Spirulina, Haematococcus | 3–5% DW | Yolk colouration (astaxanthin, lutein); immune function |
| Dairy cattle | Chlorella, Aurantiochytrium | 1–3% DW | Milk omega-3 enrichment; antioxidant status |
| Pig / swine | Spirulina, Chlorella | 2–8% DW | Protein supplement; methane reduction in gut (fucoidan) |
Asparagopsis taxiformis (red alga) at 0.5% of dry matter intake reduces bovine enteric methane by 65–80% in independent trials (Roque et al., 2021, PLOS ONE). Contains bromoform which inhibits methanogen enzyme MCR. First commercial cattle supplementation in Australia reached 10,000 heads in 2022 under Rumin8 programme.
Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) fed on algal residue post-extraction accumulate up to 45% protein DW and 30% lipid DW — creating a two-stage system where algae residue feeds insect biomass, which in turn becomes premium aquafeed. EU Novel Food approval for BSFL in aquafeed (Regulation 2021/1372) unlocks this cascade.
4BlueTech Integration: CO₂ Capture → Algal Feed → Carbon-Negative Aquaculture
4BlueTech's CO₂-fed Nannochloropsis pilot in Malta produces biomass that qualifies directly as omega-3-enriched aquafeed after cell disruption. By coupling industrial CO₂ capture to feed production, the system converts a Scope 1 emitter's liability into a certified omega-3 supply chain with a negative carbon balance verified under ISO 14044. Target: 200 t/year omega-3-enriched feed by Q1 2027.