World Water Day

Today we cellebrate world water day 💧by sharing our most recent publication, from AlgaValor Project:
📑 “Removing chemical and biological pollutants from swine wastewater through constructed wetlands aiming reclaimed water reuse”
This work is the result of the partnership between #CIIMAR, #icbas, and #fcup, and it demonstrates the treatment of livestock wastewater, by constructed wetlands, which allow the removal of both chemical and biological contaminants 🌿 After treatment, this water can be reused in agriculture, with potential as fertilizer, promoting circular economy.
Pode ser um grande plano de massa de água
One small step for Algavalor, a giant leap to valorize this precious resource, which belongs to us all. 🌊

Appreciation of microalgae extracts and natural cosmetics

In WorkPackage 3, different microalgae were studied, aiming at the development of ingredients for natural cosmetics. This was attained either by including microalgae biomass as a whole, or as extracts.

Microalgae can be considered novel, functional, “green”/sustainable ingredients. Within #Algavalor, we selected the strains with more potential; we optimized culture conditions to promote an ideal biochemical composition; and we worked on extraction methods, to obtain the target functional compounds; we verified their bioactivities and developed prototypes of creams and soaps, enriched with microalgae.

WP3 is led by #UMinho, working together with #CIIMAR, #Allmicroalgae, #UAveiro, #FCUP, #EFP, and #Castelbel.

Quality and sustainability through Microalgae

 

To evaluate the benefits of adding microalgae to formulated diets, several studies were carried out: composition of feeds and the digestibility of microalgae by pigs were evaluated; ways to enhance vitamin B12 production, by associating lactic acid bacteria with Chlorella vulgaris were studied; the immune response of piglets on diets with different levels of inclusion of C. vulgaris, N. oceanica, N. limnetica, and T. chui was administered; tests were carried out in the fattening phase and in an industrial environment, evaluating the productive performance and meat characteristics; the microbiological, nutritional, and sensorial profiles of the L. lumborum muscle from animals fed with microalgae were analyzed.

Feed for pigs and improved meat

Pork is the most consumed type of meat in Europe.

Algavalor WP2 is dedicated to: 1) develop feed solutions for pigs and 2) improve the meat of these animals, for human consumption.

Did you know microalgae can boost animal health, beyond nutrition? Microalgae are functional ingredients, which promote the immune response and can reduce the need for antibiotics. In WP2, microalgae diets were tested in two critical stages of pig production cycle: during the weaning phase of piglets, when it is crucial to promote disease resistance and increase productivity; and during the finishing phase, in which we can supply polyunsaturated fatty acids and antioxidant compounds from microalgae and thus enrich animal meat (in healthy fatty acids) and increase its shelf life (by preventing lipid peroxidation).

SP2 brings together five research-focused partners (#ICBAS, #Uaveiro, #ISA, #INIAV, and #UCP) and two companies (#Allmicroalgae and #Valorgado).