Eco-friendly and sustainable new family of biopesticides based on microalgae via circular economy approach (ALGAENAUTS)

ALGAENAUTS is a two-and-a-half-year project funded by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), aimed at achieving and validating the pre-commercial industrial production of microalgae-based biopesticide and biostimulant products for agriculture by using seawater and wastewater as nutrients source, for the cultivation of microalgae strains with proven biopesticide and biostimulant activity.

Tangible results: The project is working in exclusivity with five microalga strains with proven antifungal, antibacterial and biostimulant activity. Per strain, it will obtain 1 biopesticide and 1 biofertilizer. 3 biostimulant products have already been obtained based on other microalgae strains.

Application/relevance: Microalgae based biopesticides and biostimulant products developed under the project will contribute to the reduction of chemical synthetic products in agriculture such as mineral fertilisers and chemical pesticides.