Project - PIGMENT - Sustainable macroalgae biorefinery for co-production of phycoerythrin

Project start November 2024. Project completion October 2025.

Large portion (30%) of agriculture GHG emissions stems from methane produced by cattle. Maripure (MP), is developing a biosolution-based method to extract methane-inhibiting compounds (MICs) from red macroalgae that can reduce cattle methane production by over 60%. But the overall economics and sustainability of the macroalgal bioprocess can be improved by increasing biomass productivity and co-production of multiple products from the biomass.

PIGMENT will develop a climate-friendly, sustainable biorefinery for co-production of phycoerythrin (PE), a high-value protein pigment as a co-product of MICs bioprocess using red macroalgae tetraspores. DTI together with Maripure will develop sustainable macroalgae biomass production and PE extraction methods without deteriorating the concentration and quality of MICs.

The final successful integration of PE production process into MP's existing MIC production line will not only enhance the process economics and business case but also contribute significantly to climate and sustainability goals.

PIGMENT is a project funded by Biosolutions Zealand, co-funded by the European Union together with Danish Board of Business Development for 2 partners (1 SME and 1 RTO) from Denmark.