Blue economy in the North -Scandinavian algal biotechnology
For converting a society dependent on fossil fuels and nuclear energy into a sustainable, bio-based society, all production processes and products must be optimized for low material and energy use. Photosynthetic organisms use solar energy to incorporate atmospheric CO2 into organic molecules. Therefore, photosynthesis not only mitigates climate change, the produced biomass also provides food and feed, and even can be used in technical processes to gain valuable products and biofuels. Algae and cyanobacteria are the most productive photosynthetic organisms on Earth. Their fast growth allows harvesting after short times and the aquatic growth of microorganisms in tanks or ponds does not compete with arable land and allows a continuous, automated production system with very high flow-through capacities. Therefore, the interest is enormous in the development of algal-based bioeconomy and bioproduction value chains, and research on blue bioeconomy is progressing rapidly on a global scale. In Northern countries, microalgal-based processes are challenging due to limiting light and low temperature conditions during a significant part of the year, however, native strains have shown to be adapted to the harsh climate and provide robust production strains. Additionally, in Nordic climate evaporation or over-heating are minimal. Cutting-edge Nordic research on algal technology, innovation and entrepreneurship is performed within the private and public sector.
The focus of this issue is on the identification and development of Nordic cyanobacteria, micro- and macroalgae and their use as industrial production strains in Scandinavia.
- Biodiversity of Scandinavian algae
- Photobioreactor design
- Higher biomass production by efficient photosynthesis
- Improved biomass quality
- Sustainable harvesting and extraction techniques
- Use of microalgae in wastewater treatment
- Photosynthetic cell factories
- Production of food, feed and higher value compounds
- Life cycle assessments on algal biorefinery
Deadline September 2020 PROLONGED TO 13th DECEMBER
In collaboration with NordAqua.
Guest editors
Christiane Funk
Christiane.Funk@umu.se
Umeå University
Poul Erik Jensen
peje@food.ku.dk
Copenhaguen university
Jorunn Skjermo
Jorunn.Skjermo@sintef.no
SINTEF Norway