![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2019/02/joel-filipe-196735-unsplash-1024x681.jpg)
Feasibility study into the extraction of blue dye from algae and proteins from duckweed.
Greenhouse horticulture is experiencing difficult times due to rising costs and increasing global competition. Both Flanders and the Netherlands therefore pursue a supportive policy towards greenhouse horticulture in order to be able to realize the necessary transition and the associated modernization.
The aim is to enrich the existing range, such as the commercial cultivation of micro-algae, good for applications in the food and textile industry, construction sector, pharmacy and cosmetics.
Spirulina offers the greatest potential within the range of bio-based micro-algae because it contains an important source of phycocyanin (blue dye). It can be a valuable substitute for the artificial variety, Brilliant Blue (E133), which has been associated with hyperactivity and other health risks.
Currently, most of the microalgae are imported from Asia or the United States. The planned cultivation in Flanders and the Netherlands must therefore be able to distinguish itself by its high quality. The logistical process from cultivation to processing must also be economically interesting so that there are sufficient buyers of this micro-algae. Greenhouses are ideally suited for this and there are enough people in the region with the necessary technical knowledge to realize this cultivation in a qualitative and efficient manner, subject to some retraining. A special surplus within the project is the cultivation of the aquatic plant duckweed on the wastewater so that it can function as an excellent water purifier.
Large-scale cultivation
“The blue chain” is an impetus to achieve a large-scale cultivation of algae in greenhouse horticulture for the production of blue dye. If this cultivation turns out to be profitable, there will be room for dozens of hectares of microalgae cultivation under glass or on container fields, making the Flemish-Dutch border region a valuable player on a global scale.
Knowledge clips Blue Chain
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2024/07/Maria-Hugo-en-Anke-bedrijventerrein-Steenakker_50-608x342.png)
Lokaal opwekken, lokaal gebruiken
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Deze gaan we nog vaak terugzien
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Recycling Water Bottles into Circular Sports Products
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FermiChem
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2024/01/columbus-600x342.png)
Protein of Columbus
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2023/10/Energiek-Onderwijs-vierkant-onder-608x342.png)
BIO-CAPPP
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2023/10/Hoofdafbeelding-Energiek-Onderwijs-608x342.jpg)
Energy Education
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2023/07/BIO-CAPPP-MNEXT-608x342.jpg)
BIO-CAPPP
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2023/03/zonnepanelen-bedrijventerrein-608x342.jpg)
GESCHIKT: energy transition on business parks
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2023/02/shutterstock_77890051_greenhome-608x342.jpg)
Rapid Renewable Materials: the next step in sustainable construction.
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2023/02/board-608x342.jpg)
Mycelium on Board
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2023/01/MicrosoftTeams-image-2-608x342.jpg)
From orange waste to a green future
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2023/01/MicrosoftTeams-image-3-608x342.jpg)
Blueprint of fungal genomes
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2023/01/mapbox-ZT5v0puBjZI-unsplash-608x342.jpg)
BioGov.net
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2022/12/myc-600x342.png)
Water-resistant mycelium composites
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2022/10/wil-stewart-K_TbABnVzHo-unsplash-608x342.jpg)
Sustainable Particle Board
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2022/09/P1200084-608x342.jpg)
Circular Emergency Shelters
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2022/09/banner-1-e1662634826510-608x342.jpg)
FACET
![Totally nuts](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2022/06/shutterstock_1806155848-608x342.jpg)
Totally Nuts: Circular Biobased Thermosets from Cashew Nutshells
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2022/07/AvansBiobased-041Def-608x342.jpg)
Biodegradation Coatings Stahl
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2022/06/Green-Hub-12-480x342.png)
Green Hub: Information hub value chains green residual flows
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Acceleration of nature-inclusive area development
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Reflow
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Biobased Insulation – Lifespan Determination (BILD)
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2022/06/boot-608x342.png)
Setting up and performing biodiesel trials in a coaster ship
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2022/05/Mythic-mycelium-608x342.jpg)
Mythic
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2022/03/PyroCHEM-infographic-1200x675px_EN-608x342.jpg)
PyroCHEM: Waste2Chem Innovation Cluster
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Membrane Technologies
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Flestic
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Direct extrusion of PHA-rich biomass
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Production of bioplastics from residual streams (WoW! Capitalisation)
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2021/11/foto-agrifood.jpg)
Powering Agrifood
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Smart Circular Bridge
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Fungal Colourants
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Learning Network Biobuilders
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Orange in the Sea
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2021/01/aahminozuren-608x342.jpg)
Amino Acids!
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2019/05/building-on-mycelium-800x600-608x342.png)
Building on Mycelium
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Follow-up S4G
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Colour Application Centre
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Making disposables disposable
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Making shipping more sustainable (Russia – Benelux)
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Zircular Seaweed food
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2021/01/organic-onions-S8A6MPC-608x342.jpg)
Extraction of pectins from onion skins
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2021/01/varieties-of-undergrowth-mushrooms-7CAJWLM-608x342.jpg)
Growing Leather
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Learning Community Renewable fuels
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PHA accumulation capacity of Sewage Treatment Plant
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2020/12/Reduce-reuse-recycle-608x342.jpg)
NACO – Zero Waste Collective Oosterhout
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2020/12/shutterstock_162956954_greenhouse-608x342.jpg)
Bio Iso (RAAK MKB)
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2020/10/JORT_Afbeelding1-e1603976058349-608x342.jpg)
Design with RRM (rapidly renewable materials)
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2020/10/i-detail-608x342.jpg)
Resin biodegradation
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2020/10/bioploymerenCraze-608x342.jpg)
Biobased gadgets
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2020/10/Schuim1-608x342.jpg)
Biobased foam
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2020/10/IMG_5743-608x342.jpg)
Biobased flocculants for water purification
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2020/10/Vibers-1-608x342.jpg)
Viberscrete – biobased concrete
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2019/09/mooc-biobased-energy-banner-608x342.png)
Innovation Traineeships
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2020/09/b535c42e-182e-4a7c-944f-e4dec2e67243-608x342.jpg)
Building light
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2020/08/Aardbeientray-9-gaats-zwaar-P1-MR-608x342.jpeg)
BioADD
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CurCol
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Learning community
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Professors’ platform Biobased Economy
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Porter’s lodge Delfland
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Smart Circular Bridge
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Biobased, circular Christmas bauble with packaging
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2020/04/mycelium-608x342.jpg)
Mycelium boards
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2020/04/IMG_4658-608x342.jpg)
Coloring Mycelium
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Back to the Materials of the Future
![biobased-bloempot](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2020/02/DSC_2413-608x342.jpg)
National Biobased Database
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2020/02/brug-608x342.jpg)
Structural Health in Biobased Constructions
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2020/01/Levende-kleuren-008-608x342.jpg)
Beauti-Fully Biobased Fibers
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2020/01/depositphotos_63934323-stock-photo-coffee-beans-scattered-on-burlap-608x342.jpg)
Coffee Silverskin Biomass Utilization
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2020/01/carbon-black-barbecue-charcoal-1-608x342.jpg)
Sustainable solid biofuels
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2020/01/142A3090-small-608x342.jpg)
Biobonding: Improved biocomposites
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2020/01/IMG_9379-608x342.jpg)
ZCORE (from Seaweed to COating Resin applications)
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2020/01/Cashew_Nut_Tree-608x342.jpg)
Cashing cashew
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Material research for 3D printing
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2019/12/zeewier-sterolen-608x342.jpg)
Seaweed Sterols
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2019/12/ui-verdient-meer-608x342.jpg)
Onion deserves more
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2019/12/opcirkelen-in-de-bouw-608x342.png)
Circling in construction
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2019/11/shutterstock_152590160_wastecorn-608x342.jpg)
Biomass flows in the province of South Holland
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2019/11/blok.jpg)
Circular Bio-based Construction Industry (CBCI)
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2019/11/shutterstock_90523096_wastegarbage-608x342.jpg)
Biodegradability of biopolymer and biopolymer composites
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2019/11/Biobased-Materials-Plus-608x342.png)
BBM+
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2019/11/DSCN3170-608x342.jpg)
Opportunities for composting in Brazil
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2019/09/grote-markt-breda-608x342.png)
Stadsjutters Breda
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2019/09/innovatietafels-608x342.png)
Innovation tables
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2019/04/dani-california-789655-unsplash-608x342.jpg)
Tomatozyme
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2019/02/DSC_1781-608x342.jpg)
MAA’s from algae
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2019/04/shutterstock_162956954_greenhouse-608x342.jpg)
Sensor wise Biobased
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2019/04/bas-emmen-533040-unsplash-608x342.jpg)
Pyrolysis Experimental Garden South
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2019/04/shutterstock_167802773_grasswaterdroplets-608x342.jpg)
Grassification
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REFAWOOD
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2019/03/lars-blankers-564565-unsplash-608x342.jpg)
Valuable ONION
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2019/03/GCC-REWIN-West-Brabant-Biobased_Planten-002-608x342.jpg)
Biobased Network
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2018/12/Biobased-Battle-2018-deelnemers-608x342.jpg)
Living Lab Biobased Brazil
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2019/03/BACBIK12-608x342.jpg)
Biopolymer Application Center
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2019/02/gbo-banner-608x342.png)
Borderless Biobased Education
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2019/02/levende-kleuren-coebbe-608x342.png)
Living Colors
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2019/02/mycelium-test-608x342.png)
Mycelium
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2019/02/biokleur-608x342.jpg)
BioCOLOUR
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2019/02/biocanndo-608x342.png)
BioCannDo
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2019/02/joel-filipe-196735-unsplash-608x342.jpg)
Blue Chain
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2019/02/shutterstock_42966844_waterwaste-608x342.jpg)
WOW!
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2019/01/Biobased-wiki-608x342.jpg)
Green Growth
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2019/01/biobased-challenge-608x342.png)
Biobased Challenge
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2019/01/brug-608x342.jpg)
Biobased bridge
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2019/01/bb100-banner-608x342.png)
Pure Nature: 100% Biobased
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2019/02/logo-lbkn-608x342.jpg)
National Biobased Knowledge Network
![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2019/01/gras05-608x342.jpg)