Name:
REBECA: NETWORK OF EXCELLENCE IN BLUE BIOTECHNOLOGY
Developed by:
Fundación Canaria Parque Científico Tecnológico de la Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Spanish Algae Bank)
Country(ies) involved:
Portugal, Spain
Funding sources:
International
General idea:
REBECA is a territorial development and cooperation platform created to promote Blue Biotechnology within the geographical area of the Macaronesian region and Northwest Africa.
Description:
The objective of REBECA is to create a network and bring together culture collections, R&D centres and the Administration with the mission of conserving and enhancing Biodiversity and to serve as an embryo for the development and implementation of an innovative industry based on the culture of microalgae and cyanobacteria that will be an economic engine and the improvement of the quality of life in the region.
The results of the project will benefit biotechnology companies in the field of food, nutraceuticals, cosmetics and health; the primary sectors of agriculture (biofertilizers, biopesticides) and aquaculture (feed, functional molecules); and, directly or indirectly, the tourism service sector thanks to the rational use of natural resources and the supply of local products.
Goals:
1. Strengthening and expanding microalgae collections:
Consolidating and diversifying existing collections by incorporating new strains and further characterizing them to assess their biotechnological potential. A conservation system is being implemented to guarantee quality, traceability, and access to strains useful for various sectors.
2. Promote applied research and validation of uses.
Develop pilot lines and validation actions for the production and processing of selected strains, applicable to sectors such as aquaculture, agriculture or food, under a biorefinery approach.
3. Strengthen technical capabilities and infrastructure.
Update and optimize the equipment and spaces dedicated to the conservation, cultivation and processing of algae, incorporating European quality standards that guarantee quality, traceability and sustainability.
4. Promote specialized training and foster knowledge transfer and economic development.
Promote knowledge transfer, specialized training and cooperation among the four pillars of the quadruple helix —research, business, administration and citizens— in order to generate employment, support entrepreneurship and move towards a fair, innovative and sustainable territorial development model.
These objectives are aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially with regard to innovation, responsible production and biodiversity conservation.
Sources:
https://redrebeca.eu/