SLIDE 1
Phase II NIBB: Algae-UK “exploiting the algal treasure trove”
Saul Purton (University College London)
SLIDE 2 The 13 BBSRC phase I NIBB
(2014-2019)
- Networks comprise members from academia, industry, policy makers & other
stakeholders.
- Aim to promote and support R&D in industrial biotechnology within the UK.
- To raise the profile of IB in UK and abroad.
- To build critical mass of expertise, effort and focus.
- To attract national and international funding.
SLIDE 3
- Aquatic, solar-powered cell factories
- Huge biological diversity
(rich resource of novel bioactives, pigments, polymers, oils, etc.)
- Largely untapped and unexploited
- Wealth of academic expertise in the UK
- Lots of industry interest in this emerging ‘blue-green economy’
and opportunities being actively embraced by other countries
- But still a fledgling sector, particularly in the UK
Why algae?
SLIDE 4
The focus of PHYCONET
High-value products from microalgae (including cyanobacteria), industrially cultivated in an intensive and controlled manner using photobioreactor technologies.
SLIDE 5 ~750 members
monthly newsletter website
~1,100 followers
17 PoC and Seeding Catalyst awards 16 business interaction vouchers 20 training and conference awards 13 conferences and workshops 12 summer
studentships
Sponsorship
meetings Outreach and educational activities Overseas missions to USA, NZ and China
PHYCONET has created a thriving microalgal community in the UK
The success of PHYCONET
SLIDE 6
Algae-UK
microalgae cyanobacteria macroalgae
Patricia Harvey (U. of Greenwich) Anna Amtmann (U. of Glasgow) Michele Stanley (SAMS)
SLIDE 7 Algae-UK
Key areas of focus are:
- Microalgae for pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, pigments, food,
feed, bio-remediation and bio-recovery
- Macroalgae (bioactives, polymers, food & feed additives, AD)
- Selective breeding programmes
- Genetic engineering/synthetic biology
- Advances in intensive cultivation and DSP
- Cyanobacteria as light-driven chassis for novel products
- Increased focus on supporting ECR, and inspiring & training next
generation of algal biotechnologies (e.g. development of experimental kits for schools)
- Increased international engagement
SLIDE 8 Algae-UK activities
- Conferences, workshops, training courses, etc.
- Support for training, conference attendance, industry secondments
- Summer studentships
- Sponsorship and partnering of algae-related events
- Support for guideline resources: regulations, standards, market
potential, etc.
- Public outreach activities
- Proof-of-concept funding
- Overseas missions and international engagement
- Establishment of a UK MOOC in algal biotechnology
- School projects, kits, STEM engagement
SLIDE 9
The Algal Innovation Centre, Cambridge
A GM-compliant test facility
SLIDE 10
Algae as food
SLIDE 11
Chlorella Euglena
SLIDE 12
Aquaculture feed
SLIDE 13
Other feed markets
Poultry Cattle Ornamental fish
SLIDE 14
Nutraceuticals
SLIDE 15
Fucoxanthin – a slimming aid ?
SLIDE 16
As anti-oxidants or pigments in cosmetics
SLIDE 17
SLIDE 18
Prof Steve Mayfield Director: California Center for Algae Biotechnology, UCSD
algal polymers
Seaweed-based water pouches Flip-flops from microalgal polymers
