Ulvans Exploitation of green algae for animal nutrition and health

The ULVANS project led to the exploitation of marine-harvested green algae by perfecting specific collection, conservation and processing methods with the aim of offering animal and plant nutrition and health solutions based on exploitation of the biomass as a whole.

Several methods were deployed for the comprehensive exploitation of green algae: tools were devised for harvesting the algae at sea to ensure a supply of good quality algae, optimal conditions were developed for the conservation of the algae and, lastly, a cracking/refining process was implemented for the sequential extraction of molecules of integral value to the end products.

The project led to the development of the first macroalgal bio-refinery in Brittany and, more generally, elsewhere in France and Europe.

• 75 jobs were created in R&D, production and marketing, leading to the creation of numerous indirect jobs (harvesting, analyses, etc.).
• 6 patents have been registered.
• 7 scientific publications were produced and over 100 papers were presented at symposiums/exhibitions in France and internationally.