REAL-MAC

Description

Improving the sustainability of the agri-food system is one of the priorities of the European Green Deal. The Farm to Fork strategy and the CAP set out the need to drastically reduce nutrient losses and the use of synthetic fertilisers and agrochemicals by 2030. The European Commission also sets the 2030 challenge to "unlock the potential of microalgae" as a renewable resource that will contribute to the sustainability of the agricultural and food systems, the development of the circular economy and the availability of new bio-based products in Europe. In response to these challenges, REAL-MAC project will enhance microalgae production from waste streams to generate bioproducts for the agricultural sector.

Objectives

REAL-MAC aims to develop prototypes of organic agricultural products following a circular strategy based on the cultivation of microalgae in agri-food effluents. The project will demonstrate the potential of microalgae production as a biological solution to recover nutrients in three types of agri-food effluents and will apply sustainable technologies to transform algal biomass into fertilisers, biostimulants and bio-fungicides. These bio-based product prototypes will be tested in organic farming and hydroponics, against agricultural diseases of economic impact and taking into consideration environmental factors related to climate change.

Impact

The adoption of the results by different target groups in the agri-food sector will be promoted through guides, events, demonstrations and studies. The consortium integrates four complementary cross-border entities in terms of knowledge, which combine the technological capacity, infrastructures and experience necessary for the joint development of this circular strategy. The results of REAL-MAC will contribute to improving resource efficiency, sustainability, mitigation of the effects of climate change and diversification of the agrifood value chain in the POCTEFA territory.

Funded by: European Union's Interreg programme VI-A España-Francia-Andorra (POCTEFA 2021-2027)

Duration: January 2024 – December 2026