In an environment that brought together students, researchers at different career levels, technicians and entrepreneurs, the First International Congress on Algae Biotechnology reinforced the importance of collaboration, knowledge sharing and project dissemination, both for scientific, technological and industrial advancement and for the development and sustainable growth of our investors, both personally and professionally.
The 1st International Congress on Algae Biotechnology took place between 9 and 11 April and CCMAR participated strongly, standing out not only for the number of researchers involved, but also for the diversity and relevance of the papers presented. The congress was organised around three main themes: Research and Innovation in Algae, Industrial Applications and the Market, Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Solutions, one theme for each day of the event, and CCMAR was present at all of them, not only with two Talks but also with the presentation of several posters of various works and projects.
Our researchers attended the event, representing various research groups, including MarBiotech, Marine Plant Ecology Research, Aquagroup, Algae and BEE. CCMAR's participation was marked by the opening of Professor João Varela, guest speaker on the first day, who presented strategies for identifying and mitigating biological contaminants that compromise microalgae cultures. On the final day, Tamára Santos presented her work on the bacterioma associated with the industrial production of microalgae, bringing to the congress an increasingly relevant topic in algae biotechnology.
The event was held as part of the Algae Vertical project, led by Necton and involving 38 entities from the algae industry. This is a flagship initiative on the agenda of the Pact for the Blue Bioeconomy. The project, focused on boosting sustainable products, optimising processes and introducing innovative services, is co-financed by the Recovery and Resilience Plan and the Next Generation EU Funds. With a megalomaniacal scale, it relies on the high level of involvement of our groups and members, who through the Blue Bioeconomy Pact are responsible for the project's various Work Packages: Vertical Algae, Vertical Bivalves and Vertical Biobanks. This pact aims to create new economic models based on marine biological resources and establish Europe's first blue bioeconomy centre.
Take a look at the gallery and get to know our researchers and their work:
Aqsa Sharif – Aquagroup, Estudante de Doutoramento – "Enhancing Larval Robustness with Algal Products: Insights into Growth and Redox Status";
Bárbara Vieira – MarBiotech, Estudante de Doutoramento – "Microalgae as a Source of Bioactive Compounds for Advanced Skincare Formulations" e "Valorisation of Macroalgae as a Sustainable Source of Vitamin K1 for Supplementation and Skin Health";
Beatriz Simões – MarBiotech, Estudante de Doutoramento – "Selection and adaptation of microalgae for enhanced resistance to flue gas and digestate toxicity and increased lipid content"; COSEC Project
Carlos Marrero Alemán – Aquagroup, Estudante de Doutoramento – "Enhancing Antioxidant Capacity and Biomass Production in Phaeodactylum tricornutum through Vitamin Supplementation";
Catarina Viana – ALGAE, Estudante de Doutoramento – "Unveiling the bioactivity of algal extracts on Fusarium oxysporum disease management";
Cristiana Lourenço – MarBiotech, Técnica de Investigação – "Improving the nutritional value of Acheta domesticus diets with microalgae to mitigate intestinal dysbiosis"; Projeto DiBan
Davide Liberti – MarBiotech, Investigador Júnior – "RHE-MEDiation European Project: first efforts for the installation of the GREENDUNE system"; Projeto RHE-MEDiation
Francisca Félix Azeredo – BEE, Investigadora – "New methodology for the assessment of gametophyte survival and growth in the kelp Laminaria ochroleuca";
Gabriela Moura Kurowiski de Brito – MarBiotech, Estudante de Doutoramento – "Adaptation of Spirulina sp. LEB18 to heterotrophic cultivation";
Inês Beatriz Maia – MarBiotech, Estudante de Doutoramento – "The effect of extracts from microalgae grown in drainwater as biocontrol agents and biostimulants in agriculture"; Projeto REALM algae
Maurean Tehani Guerreiro – MarBioTech, Estudante de Doutoramento – "Advances in Porphyridium purpureum strain improvement: creation of mutants with enhanced stress tolerance to environmental stressors";
Mélanie Silva – MarBiotech, Estudante de Doutoramento – "Microalgae-Derived Bioactives: A Natural Approach to Combat Inflammation"; Projeto Algae4IBD
Nicolle Prates – MarBiotech, Estudante de Doutoramento – "Scaling-up microalgae cultures: unlocking biochemical composition and antioxidant potential of novel strains"; Projeto PBA - Textiles Vertical
Veronica Rossetto – MarBiotech, Técnica de Investigação – "Exploring the bacteria associated with microalgae cultivation: isolation, molecular characterization, and biotechnological potential"; Projeto Algae Vertical
Aqsa Sharif - PhD Student presenting a poster on "Enhancing Larval Robustness with Algal Products: Insights into Growth and Redox Status"
Francisca Félix Azeredo presents a poster on "New methodology for the assessment of gametophyte survival and growth in the kelp Laminaria ochroleuca"
Carlos presents a poster about "Enhancing Antioxidant Capacity and Biomass Production in Phaeodactylum tricornutum through Vitamin Supplementation"
Davide presents a poster on "RHE-MEDiation European Project: first efforts for the installation of the GREENDUNE system"
Cristiana presents a poster on "Improving the nutritional value of Acheta domesticus diets with microalgae to mitigate intestinal dysbiosis"
Professor João Varela, ICAB scientific committee member & Guest Speaker
Professor João Varela giving his talk on strategies to identify and mitigate biological contaminants that jeopardise microalgae cultures.
Gabriela de Brito presented a poster on "Adaptation of Spirulina sp. LEB18 to heterotrophic cultivation"
Nicolle Prates presented a poster on "Scaling-up microalgae cultures: unlocking biochemical composition and antioxidant potential of novel strains"
Tamara Santos giving her talk on bacteriome associated with the industrial production of microalgae,
Veronica presents a poster on "Exploring the Bacteria Associated with Microalgae Cultivation: Isolation, Molecular Characterization, and Biotechnological Potential"
Joana talks on “Harnessing microalgae to enhance sustainability in cell-based food production”
