INRA, the French agricultural research institute, has announced the formation of a network to bring together all of the country’s micro-algae developers in the hope of increasing innovation and development in creating greener biofuels which do not compete with cropland.

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The GreenStars initiative aims to develop more efficient biofuels based on micro-algae fed on industrial emissions of carbon dioxide and nutrients contained in waste by 2020. Led by INRA and working in collaboration with 45 partners ranging from local authorities to SMEs and multinationals, GreenStars hopes to become one of the top Institutes in the field of micro-algae bio-refinery worldwide within five to ten years, according to INRA. The project has a budget of €160 million for its work over that time.

As well as looking into the possibilities of creating biofuels from Micro-algae, the project will look at other products including food and feed and cosmetics which could be developed from algae. INRA claims micro-algae could be a solution to many problems facing the world, including peak oil, the rising population and climate change.

Although it may seem like an idea from Soilent Green, the French institute has said it hopes its investment in algae as a source of energy and, potentially, nutrition will bring major economic development to the country. Research initiatives and investments in the field of micro-algae for energy purposes have increased considerably over the past few years, however, most research has been conducted in the United States, where up to 200 research and development projects are being undertaken.

Third generation biofuels can be produced using industrial CO2 or substrate from sewage waters and the process would not compete with arable or other agricultural production, which has been a major criticism of current methods of biofuel production.  

INRA predicts GreenStars could create a number of jobs in a variety of industries in France; in additions to research and development, the institute said its new network will provide training for engineers in skills that will be needed in order to create a strong and sustainable sector in the future.

The initiative is based around three sites in Montpellier, Narbonne and Nice, whose universities or councils have supported the formation of the GreenStars network. INRA it hopes the project will produce tangible results as early as 2016. GreenStars should create positions for up to 200 researchers, engineers and technicians across the three sites.

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