FAF
Future-Proof Microalgae-Based Foods
Introduction
Microalgae have enormous potential as a sustainable food ingredient for the future. They are highly nutritious, can be produced without using arable land, and require far less freshwater than many conventional food sources. Despite these advantages, their uptake in the food sector remains limited due to regulatory complexity, a lack of market knowledge, and uncertainty about viable business models.
FAF aims to accelerate the use of microalgae in food products by translating scientific knowledge into practical applications. The project will develop and test a range of innovative food products, including chocolates, cakes, fish alternatives, algae caviar, functional beverages, freeze-dried snacks, and functional powders.
In addition, FAF will assess the environmental and economic performance of promising business cases, develop market analyses and roadmaps for commercialisation, and provide guidance for incorporating microalgae into a wider range of food products. By bringing together food innovators, researchers, and regulatory experts from across Europe, the project seeks to support the successful introduction of microalgae-based foods to the market and contribute to a more sustainable food system.
Microalgae-based food, circularity, sustainability, new foods, biotechnology
2026-2029
TRL: 3-5
Background
Feeding the world is an urgent challenge, one that can’t be achieved simply by increasing quantities of foods and value chains. For this reason, we want to bring a new sustainable feedstock: microalgae. They are sun-powered, grow in water that can be recycled, and use less land. They are nutritious and we want to make them affordable and delicious.
What we do
On microalgae-based foods and ingredients, FAF will perform
Life cycle assessments & techno-economic analyses
Regulatory analyses, to simplify novel food applications
White paper with policy guidelines
Optimize production and extraction at pilot scale
7 food prototype
Scientific communication and dissemination
Business cases and analyses
Market analyses (EU and international)
Expected impact on food system transformation
Society: More sustainable, nutritious food on European plates; higher consumer acceptance; new jobs in biotech and biobased sectors.
Environment: Lower-footprint food ingredients; circular production using side streams; reduced land and water pressure; EU directive compliance.
Industry: Expanded European algae food sector; validated prototypes reducing market uncertainty; new R&D investment; integrated marine biorefinery business model.
Policy: Evidence base for EU decision-makers; regulatory gap identification; direct alignment with Green Deal, Farm to Fork, and Blue Bioeconomy.
Implementation and plans to reach target groups
All partners share results through scientific publications, conference presentations, trade shows, and webinars. Stakeholder workshops (quadruple helix model), demonstration sessions, and matchmaking events foster cross-sectoral dialogue. Partners co-produce open-access materials — policy briefs, technical brochures, factsheets — and leverage their networks to maximise uptake.
Partners of the project
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Dr. iago Teles, Wageningen University (BPE & AlgaePARC), the Netherlands
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Iago Teles, Marcel Janssen, Luca buscaglia & Maria Barbosa, Wageningen University, Netherlands
Ana Ramos, GreenCoLab, Portugal
Niculina-Iudita Sampalean, WIISE S.R.L. Società Benefit, Italy
Emre Yemisken, Tetis Biyoteknoloji, Turkey
Giovanna Romano, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Italy
Ronald Halim, University College Dublin, Ireland
Espen Holst Hansen, UiT – The Arctic University of Norway
Serdar Marasli, ETI Gıda San., Turkey
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NWO – Dutch Research Council, Netherlands
FCT – Foundation for Science and Technology, Portugal
MUR – Ministry of University and Research, Italy; TÜBİTAK – Scientific and Technological Research Council, Turkey
DAFM – Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Ireland
Research Council of Norway, Norway