P - R
POLARPRODS
Short Title: POLARPRODS Proposal URL: http://classic.ipy.org/development/eoi/proposal-details.php?id=142 Microalgae - prokaryotic cyanobacteria and eukaryotic algae play a key role in Arctic and Antarctic ecology as primary producers. They can cope with extreme temperatures, varying light intensities, as well as low availability of essential nutrients and other resources. Microalgae constitute a potential resource useful in biotechnological applications and they have an important advantage over many other organisms as they can be expediently cultured for the production and processing of desirable compounds. Culturing of microalgae and their maintenance in a culture collection as a stable renewable resource is a huge advantage in the development of their value to biotechnology. The promising application, with a possible turn-up both for the public health and for the safeguard of the ambient, is definitely the utilization of microalgae as a source of bioactive substances. Recently, much effort has been expended on the search for new compounds of therapeutic potential, demonstrating that microalgae of all classes possess antibacterial, antifungal and anticancer activities. There is also a number of different modes in which microalgae are utilised in aquaculture: a) as feed to supply basic nutrients; b) as a source of pigments to improve the colour of fish; c) for other biological purposes. Some prospects for new chemicals have been reported in recent years, the most prominent of which are carotenoids of nutritional and medical value, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), polysaccharides, peptides and radical scavengers. Even though, the cultivation scale-up of microalgae in polar regions seem to be difficult due to the harsh climatic conditions, on the basis of preliminary experiments, we propose an innovative step to develop microalgal photobioreactors for extreme environmental conditions, which could potentially help to develop local industry and at the same time provide a viable means of treating domestic wastewaters generated by local communities. Various types of photobioreactors (both closed and semi-closed systems) are to be constructed and tested in various parts of the Arctic Region. This might lay the basis of sustainable biotechnology to cultivate local native strains, which offer a rich source of food additives and other bioactive substances. It is proposed that the experiments will be carried out at the Canadian base of Ellesmere Island and at the Italian base of Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard. It is expected that in the future, cultivation studies will be extended to Antarctic Region at the Italian (Mario Zucchelli Station), Czech (James Ross Island) and Indian (Schirmacher Oases) bases. Although the programme seems to be very ambitious and difficult to realize, once the prototypes of the photobioreactors are experimented in both bipolar regions, the feasibility of growing the algae and cyanobacteria for food and bio-products could become in a reality. The project will develop innovative field mass culture units, which aims to optimize light energy utilization and minimize environmental impact, potentially integrating with existing polar infrastructure and associated nutrient and energy sources. Moreover, it will establish or add to valuable bio-geographical, taxonomic, physiological, biochemical and genetic parameters for polar micro-algae. Microalgae are also key resources to wastewater treatment systems, where they remove nutrients and contaminants. For exemple, this process has been already applied to bioremediate mining sites in Artic Canada. It may be possible, therefore, to use infrastructure and wastewater from polar town sites and industrial operations, and integrate photobioreactors into future urban/industrial development. A web site will be created, with links to all academic, university and industrial partners raising individual establishment profiles and highlight ecological benefits. The team will involve collaboration among Canada, Italy, Czech Republic, India and potentially other interested nations. In principle this project is continuation of existing research studies conducted recently and in the past (both in Arctic and Antarctic) by different members of the team. The exploitation of polar based bio-active metabolites is a new and innovative proposal, as is the biotechnology of outdoor studies with polar phototrophic strains.