BIOAQUAPEF

Subjet : Integrated biorefinery for aquatic biomass in the POCTEFA region: a sustainable model for the production of alternative proteins and biomolecules using pulsed electric fields

Starting Date : 01/01/2026

Ending Date : 31/12/2028

Industrial Partners : ATARAXIAL S.L.U., Biosurya S.L. et Desarrollo Agrícola y Minero, S.A. - DAYMSA, Asociación Aragón Innovalimen - Aragón Food Clust (Espagne) et GAEC LECODA -Spir’Up (France), 

Academic partners : University of Zaragoza (Spain, scientific lead) and University of Pau and the Adour (SIAME Laboratory and IPREM - MANTA Chair)

SIAME staff members involved :  LE GUER Yves and CHAUCHAT Nicolas (EE Team) ,  PECASTAING Laurent and SILVESTRE de FERRON Antoine (PHT Team)

Contrat Type : Interreg POCTEFA 

Project Description

BIOAQUAPEF is a cross-border cooperation project (Spain-France) aimed at developing and validating a sustainable biorefinery model for the utilization of native aquatic biomass from the POCTEFA region.

The project focuses on the processing of macroalgae harvested from the marine environment and spirulina from controlled cultures to produce food proteins, biomolecules of interest, and extracts with potential applications in the agri-food, biotechnology, and agricultural sectors. To this end, BIOAQUAPEF will implement innovative sequential extraction processes based on Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) technology—an advanced technology that improves extraction efficiency, reduces resource consumption, and promotes more sustainable processes.

BIOAQUAPEF addresses the current challenges facing the agri-food sector and the blue economy in the cross-border region, particularly in a context marked by climate change, pressure on natural resources, and the need to diversify protein sources. The project will help reduce dependence on traditional protein sources, promote the circular economy, and create new opportunities for innovation and technology transfer among research centers, companies, and local stakeholders in Spain and France.

The consortium is coordinated by the University of Zaragoza and brings together complementary organizations on both sides of the border. Participants include microalgae producers such as ATARAXIAL S.L.U. in Spain and GAEC LECODA —Spir’Up— in France, as well as major companies in the agri-food sector, such as Biosurya S.L. and Desarrollo Agrícola y Minero, S.A. —DAYMSA—. The consortium is rounded out by the Asociación Aragón Innovalimen —Aragón Food Cluster— and the University of Pau and the Adour Region —UPPA—. The project also includes partner organizations that will help strengthen its territorial, sectoral, and socioeconomic impact.

BIOAQUAPEF will run from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2028, with a total budget of €1,091,753.69, 65% of which is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund —ERDF— as part of the Interreg VI-A Spain-France-Andorra Program —POCTEFA 2021-2027.

The BIOAQUAPEF EFA182/06 project was 65% co-financed by the European Union under the Interreg VI-A Spain-France-Andorra Program (POCTEFA 2021–2027). The objective of POCTEFA is to strengthen economic and social integration in the Spain-France-Andorra border region.