Lutein is a high-value natural pigment widely used in dietary supplements, fortified foods, animal nutrition, and cosmeceuticals, with a current global market of £270-£315million, growing at around 6% annually. Nearly 75% of all lutein today is extracted from marigold flowers, mostly grown and processed in tropical regions under energy-intensive and multi-step conditions that limit sustainability, purity, and supply resilience. This Innovate UK--funded feasibility project, led by FutureAlgae in collaboration with London South Bank University (LSBU), will demonstrate a low-energy, recyclable process for extracting lutein directly from microalgae biomass found in UK waters. The method used is able to operate under mild conditions (≤60 °C) to gently release carotenoids without the need for drying, high pressure, or mechanical cell disruption: a process that will increase yield, purity, and energy efficiency while enabling solvent recyclability, improving the overall resource efficiency and value per tonne of algae processed. The project outcomes will establish the technical and economic basis for a UK-grown, algae-derived lutein ingredient, reducing dependence on imported marigold supplies and advancing domestic bio-based manufacturing. It will also strengthen the UK's net-zero and resource-efficiency goals by reducing process energy use and waste generation. All experimental work will be carried out in the UK, with FutureAlgae managing project coordination, commercial planning, and biomass provision, and LSBU leading laboratory experimentation and analytical validation. By delivering a proven, recyclable extraction method, this project lays the foundation for sustainable microalgae biorefineries capable of producing multiple high-value biomolecules for the UK and global markets.

Future By Insects is transforming sustainable feed protein production with an innovative model, delivering low-cost, high-quality, and carbon net-negative insect protein. Our innovative approach integrates microalgae cultivation with insect bioconversion, addressing key industry challenges, including pricing, consistency, and carbon footprint. The high quality of our insect protein is derived from the nutritional benefits provided by microalgae, which is added to low-value food waste. Our cost-effectiveness is achieved through sourcing low-value food waste and producing our own microalgae biomass at operational cost. This innovative approach ensures both quality and affordability in our insect protein production. Furthermore, our microalgae component captures carbon during the cultivation process, contributing to our product's carbon-net negative status. This aligns with sustainability goals and positions Future By Insects as a leader in environmentally conscious insect protein production. The success of our approach is validated by completed proof of concept studies and successful feed trials. To propel our project to industrial scale, we are seeking funds specifically for the design and refinement of our microalgae technology. This strategic grant will not only enhance production efficiency and scalability but also reinforce our position as a pioneer in the insect protein sector. In summary, Future By Insects represents a paradigm shift in insect protein production. The incorporation of microalgae not only lowers costs and ensures consistency by allowing us to utilise low-value food waste but also captures carbon, making our insect protein carbon-net negative and advancing sustainability objectives. The funds sought will directly contribute to the critical technological innovation needed for our journey to industrial scale, solidifying Future By Insects' leadership in the insect protein sector.

Future By Insects (FBI) is a highly ambitious UK registered micro business that develops technologies relating to insect farming systems. We have deep expertise in food production, vertical farming, micro-algae farming and investment banking. The need to strengthen resilient, self-supporting agriculture in the UK has never been more important than it is today. With global supply-chain issues and rising food demand, fertiliser usage will inevitably increase over time. Both the risks to the supply chain for inorganic fertiliser and the impact on the environment of these technologies are being brought into sharp focus. This project will deliver a new form of sustainable, low-cost, high-volume, and high-quality liquid fertiliser, harnessing the circular economy, developing the value from waste organic and food materials, and improving the quality of insect frass as a fertiliser. It will deploy a proprietary solution utilising an innovative technique which will ferment insect frass using specific bacterial strains and sugars to produce a liquid insect fertiliser ("LIF"). This "safe treatment and enhancement" is the focus of this project, with an objective to demonstrate that the inclusion of LIF as fertiliser results in higher plant yield compared with the use of inorganic fertiliser alone. The innovation, once proven to be successful, will translate into a new product, increase our revenue stream and also provide the opportunity for a patentable process which can be applied across the insect farming industry, making our business a more attractive investment proposition for future investors. LIF, once introduced to the market, will be manufactured in the UK for farmers and growers in the UK and across the EU.