An exploratory review of the current status of algal research in the UK has been published this month. The scoping study by Dr Schlarb-Ridley (InCrops Enterprise Hub and Cambridge Bioenergy Initiative) was commissioned by BBSRC to inform whether it should address fundamental research into the biology of algae in the context of a feedstock for energy and other products, and if so, how. The report reviews past and current activities and makes recommendations as to how the community might be structured to ensure a continuing strength in an international context.
Key findings include:
• The UK currently has a strong and diverse knowledge base of relevance to algae, and excels in fundamental biological and ecological research; however, if the research is to increase its impact, the research community needs to achieve greater cohesion.
• On an international stage, the UK faces competition from well-funded initiatives especially in the US, the BRIC countries, Israel, Australia and within the EU.
• UK expertise can make a global impact by developing algae as a platform for industrial biotechnology, and through advocating and implementing ecologically sound algal commercialisation.
The report recommends the development of a Virtual Centre of Excellence on Algae in the UK, to provide:
• support for fundamental scientific research that will underpin the development of novel algae-based products and services
• cohesion across the algal research community
• capacity building in relevant multidisciplinary expertise.
This academic Centre of Excellence should be complemented by an Algae Technology Innovation Centre, which will be able to pull the outputs of algal research through to commercial application.
Click here for more information about the study