• The technology centre is once again taking part in the leading food industry trade fair, the fourth edition of which will be held from 16 to 18 April at the Bilbao Exhibition Centre (BEC) in Barakaldo.
• In addition to presenting its latest solutions at the Basque Government’s stand, the director of NEIKER, Leire Barañano, will moderate a session on the potential of microalgae for industry.

Algae are set to play an important role in the sustainability of the agri-food sector, the development of the bioeconomy, as well as the availability of new ecological products. They have become a versatile resource with different applications for human and animal food, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, the textile industry and the development of biomaterials.

Since 2008, the NEIKER technology centre, a member of the Basque Research and Technology Alliance, has been leading research specialising in the cultivation of microalgae and directs this activity towards obtaining products and biomolecules of agri-food interest as a complement to conventional agriculture.

Next week, the centre will present its latest developments in this field during the fourth edition of Food4Future, an event where innovation, sustainability and digitalisation converge to shape the future of the food industry.

From 16 to 18 April, at the Basque Government stand at the Bilbao Exhibition Centre (BEC) in Barakaldo (Bizkaia), NEIKER will be showing some of its latest findings in the study of microalgae, such as the development of new fertilisers that include microalgae in their composition, of sustainable origin and more environmentally friendly, or the incorporation of these microorganisms as an additive in animal diets, which improve their immune system, favouring greater animal welfare.

In addition, the director of the centre, Leire Barañano, will moderate a round table focused on the potential of microalgae for the European agri-food industry. The session “Navigating the potential of algae in the agri-food sector: current opportunities and challenges to boost the integration of algae-based products and services in the European food industry” will take place on Wednesday 17 April. In addition to Barañano, it will be attended by Sergio Seoane, professor at the UPV/EHU; the AZTI researcher, Leire Arantzamendi; and the vice-president of EABA (European Algae Biomass), Francisco Gabriel Acién.