SABANA project aims at developing a large-scale integrated microalgae-based biorefinery for the production of biostimulants, biopesticides and feed additives, in addition to biofertilizers and aquafeed, using only marine water and nutrients from wastewaters (sewage, centrate and pig manure). The objective is to achieve a zero-waste process at a demonstration scales up to 5 ha sustainable both environmentally and economically.

Researchers developed a biomass processing method that now is applied by partner companies as Biorizon Biotech. This company is building a new microalgae farm which will be the largest of Europe.

David Iglesias, Biorizon Biotech Director, says that "we are now immersed in the construction of the farm that we started last year and face the final part of that construction. We are eager to move forward, to start as soon as possible and begin to produce what our European partners are already demanding us which are those new strains of microalgae that we have already been studying since the last two and a half years”.

SABANA project, which is led by the University of Almería, have partners from several European countries. It is a large consortium that mobilizes around the 12 million euros investment European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation.