Abstract

As a result of their unusual metabolisms, the diverse phyla of marine macroalgae (red, brown and green seaweeds) produce a number of molecules which are attractive for diverse industries. Applications of algal products range from simple biomass production for food, feed and fuels to valuable products such as sugar polymers, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, pigments, and food supplements. They have also the potential to be used as a source of new bioactives for human, animal or plant health, as well as a source of new synthons and biocatalysts in sustainable chemistry. Currently, the French and European seaweed industry relies on macroalgae collected from the wild with the exception of carrageenan extraction plants which extract Kappaphycus and Eucheuma farmed in South East Asia and Eastern Africa. The growing demand worldwide for raw material for food, cosmetics, bioactives and more recently for chemistry and bioenergy, raises the question concerning the sustainability of the French and European industry. The development of culture methods, particularly those for rare and slow-growing plants, is expected to have a significant environmental benefit in the conservation of genetic resources, of algal-associated biodiversity and in the context of integrated aquaculture and bioremediation. Therefore, there is an urgent need to upscale or develop methods for mass production of native seaweeds in France. Both wild aquaculture and alternative growing methods are likely to be important in the European context. Regardless of the specific technique, these activities require detailed information about the biology and life cycle of the algal crops, as well as an in depth knowledge of the metabolism of model seaweed species and different production options. In recent years the Station Biologique de Roscoff (SBR) has adopted a leading stance in promoting genomics of marine models and ecosystems, for example through the coordination of the “Marine Genomics Europe” NoE (http://www.marine-genomics-europe.org/), the research unit “Marine Plants and biomolecules” has engaged a number of genome sequencing projects as the leading partner, including the marine bacteria Zobellia galactanivorans (Barbeyron et al., in prep., Hehemann et al., 2010) and the first genomes for the multicellular brown alga Ectocarpus siliculosus (Cock et al., 2010) and the red alga Chondrus crispus (Collén et al., in prep.), supported by Génoscope. The SBR has also developed a comprehensive inhouse park of technological platforms for DNA sequencing (BioGenOuest), transcriptomics, proteomics, protein expression and crystallization, cell imaging, and more recently metabolomics, all supported by a core bioinformatics facility (linked with IRISA-GenOuest) and the Institute is now involved in establishing EMBRC-France, the French counterpart of a Large European Infrastructure for Marine Bioressources, which is in the preparatory stage on the ESFRI roadmap for Biology. In this context, with an enlarged partnership opened to various experts in genetics, biology, chemistry and human and social sciences as well as to diverse companies and SMEs and also supported by major infrastructures in biology, the IDEALG project will demonstrate the feasibility of exploiting genomics research in seaweed biotechnology (including metagenomics of closely associated micro-organisms) and also develop new genetic approaches and tools including a transformation system for brown multicellular algae. These intensive efforts in basic research will also generate new tools to improve algal bioresources and the domestication of seaweed species, such as functional molecular markers, as well as new knowledge about inheritance phenomena that could increase the efficiency and precision of algal crop improvement. Marker-assisted breeding and selection will be largely accelerated by these novel approaches. In addition, it is expected that population genomics will help in the exploitation of algal genetic resources as well as in the development of association genetics. The integration of all “omics” approaches will provide a comprehensive view of the primary and specific metabolisms of the three lineages of seaweeds that will benefit to diverse areas of the industry, including the traditional uses of seaweed in the colloid industry, chemistry and biotechnology companies and to several SMEs involved in promoting the development of seaweed aquaculture and new uses of edible seaweeds. Other specific aims will involve the functional characterization of novel enzymes for the preparation of oligosaccharides and tailored polysaccharides and other bioactive molecules to support the creation of a new start-up and also close cooperation with R&D Departments of a chemical company and a cosmetic company. A part of this applied knowledge will also lead to the manipulation of seaweed physiology through new cultivation practices and metabolic engineering in enclosed cultivation systems of small filamentous algae such as E. siliculosus. IDEALG will also anticipate the economical, social and environmental impacts of such developments in the context of other maritime activities (including the development of cultures associated to off-shore wind and wave farms), the conservation and biosafety issues and the context of competition for space and water in a larger frame. Despite, it is claimed worldwide that most of the technologies are mature for such huge projects. We are far to master the dosmetication of crops adapted for European waters, including all the seeding techniques and the control of growth performances and associated pathologies, as well as the induced impacts. The sector wants also to assess and profile the composition of key seaweed species and understand how best to master the production of valuable ingredients during algal growth or/and by developing post-harvesting treatments. Dissemination of the IDEALG information free for distribution will be achieved in the form of international conferences, technical leaflets and scientific publications, as well as by updating electronically available databases and novel databases supported by EMBRC-France. IDEALG will also pursue a rigorous policy of intellectual property rights protection, technology transfer from academia to industry, implementation of the novel processes, and products into commercial applications, and eventually, introduction into the market; as well as informing the general public about the need to research the potential of renewable resources, increase public understanding of biotechnological processes including the use of genetically optimised biocatalysts.