Project: MICOALGA-FEED: Reduction of antibiotics in livestock farming through a natural diet based on the use of fungi and algae.

MICOALGA-FEED is a supra-autonomic Operational Group whose aim is to reduce or eliminate the use of antibiotics in livestock farming through a natural diet based on fungi and algae.

This innovation project is 80% co-financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) of the European Union and 20% by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, within the framework of the National Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. The Directorate-General for Rural Development, Innovation and Agri-Food Training (DGDRIFA) is the authority responsible for implementing this aid. Total budget: €524,847.66. Total grant: €505,519.66.

The project is based on the WHO’s One Health initiative, which involves the collaboration of multiple disciplines at local, national and international level to achieve optimal health for people, animals and the environment. In this sense, MICOALGA-FEED is focused on improving animal welfare in poultry farming. When an animal is sick, it is treated with antimicrobials. However, alternative measures to the use of antimicrobials have been investigated for years. In the specific case of poultry farming, the most frequent routes of infection are digestive and inhalation, which facilitates the colonisation of pathogenic micro-organisms that cause diseases that require treatment.

To this end, the project will develop new feeds supplemented with innovative ingredients obtained from the cultivation of fungi and microalgae that have antibiotic, immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory capacity.

To achieve this, MICOALGA-FEED has set the following specific objectives:

• Design and develop functional raw materials based on fungi and microalgae for the livestock sector.

The fungal and microalgae-based ingredients (and combinations thereof) with the greatest potential will be selected and manufactured.

• To evaluate in vitro the antimicrobial, immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory capacity, and to analytically characterise the formulated ingredients and feeds.

A battery of in vitro tests, including the simulation of the avian digestive system, will assess the antimicrobial, immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory capacity of fungal and microalgae-based ingredients, as well as of feeds supplemented with these ingredients. On the basis of these tests, the amount of each ingredient to be added will be calculated in order to maintain its effectiveness after the treatments necessary for the manufacture of the feed. Finally, the ingredients and feeds selected for their greater efficacy will be characterised analytically.

• In vivo evaluation of feed efficacy in an experimental poultry farm

By means of a battery of in vitro tests, including the simulation of the avian digestive system, the antimicrobial, immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory capacity of the ingredients based on fungi and microalgae, as well as of the feed supplemented with these ingredients, will be evaluated. On the basis of these tests, the amount of each ingredient to be added will be calculated in order to maintain its effectiveness after the treatments necessary for the manufacture of the feed. Finally, the ingredients and feeds selected for their greater efficacy will be characterised analytically.

– In vivo evaluation of feed efficacy in an experimental poultry farm.

Productive, epidemiological and clinical controls will be carried out, as well as controls on the state of the poultry’s immune system. Based on the results obtained, feedstuffs will be selected and classified by degree of efficacy.

Operational Groups: Operational Groups, key players in the implementation of the AEI-Agri (European Innovation Partnership for Productive and Sustainable Agriculture), are one of the key tools in the implementation of the National Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 to boost innovation in the agri-food and forestry sector within the European scope. They are the grouping of agents of different profiles with common interests, such as farmers, livestock farmers, companies, research or training and dissemination centres, who join together to implement an innovation project with the aim of providing a joint and multi-sectoral response to a problem or need.

For more information on Operational Groups:

• Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Commission: https://ec.europa.eu/info/food-farming-fisheries_es
• National Rural Development Programme 2014-2020: http://www.redruralnacional.es/desarrollo-rural/programas-de-desarrollo-rural

-Partners: To carry out this initiative, MICOALGA-FEED is integrated by a multidisciplinary team with a total of 12 participants between applicant members, subcontractors and collaborators.

Applicant members

• Fundación Empresa Universidad Gallega (FEUGA), representative of the Operational Group.
• Hyphae Veterinary, S.L.
• Neoalgae Micro Seaweed Products, S.L.N.E.
• UVESA Group.

Subcontracted members

• AINIA Technology Centre.
• University of Vigo (Biomass and Sustainable Development Research Group).
• Institute of Food Research and Technology (IRTA).
• University of Oviedo (Department of Biology of Organisms and Systems).

Collaborating members

• Spanish Poultry Science Association (AECA), Spanish branch of the World Poultry Science Association (WPSA).
• Spanish Foundation for the Development of Animal Nutrition (FEDNA).
• Spanish Confederation of Compound Feed Manufacturers for Pets (CESFAC).
• Spanish Interprofessional Association of Poultry Meat (AVIANZA)

Web and RRSS: More information about MICOALGA-FEED on the project website: www.micoalga-feed.es

Also in the RRSS:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Grupo-Operativo-Micoalga-Feed-109323114755661
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/micoalga
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/micoalga-

UVESA is the organisation responsible for the content.