The supra-autonomic operational group MICOALGA-FEED, of which FEUGA is representant, will develop new aviculture feed formulations supplemented with fungi and microalgae with antibiotic, immunomodulatory and antiinflamatory capacity. To do so, the project has a total budget of more than €500,000, 80% co-funded by EAFRD.
It is born based on WHO initiative One Health, which implies the collaboration between multiple disciplines at a local, national and international level, to achieve optimal health for people, animals and the environment. In this way, MICOALGA-FEED focuses on increasing animal welfare in aviculture.
When an animal is ill, it is treated with antimicrobials. Nevertheless, since some years ago, alternatives to their use are been investigated. In aviculture, the most common contagion ways are digestive and inhalational due to the intestinal barrier breakdown, which allows the colonization of pathogen microorganisms and subsequent diseases, which may need treatment.
MICOALGA-FEED will develop new feed formulations that, supplemented with fungi and microalgae, will have an inhibitor and/or antimicrobial effect, reinforcing local immunity and benefiting saprophytic intestinal flora, through:
- Valorisation of fungi and microalgae industrial processing by-products to produce functional ingredients.
- Design, characterization and validation of the formulated feeds from ingredients with antimicrobial and immunomodulatory capacity.
Thus, livestock immune system will be reinforced through feeding, allowing the reduction of economic losses and avoiding the use of treatments, together with an increase of the poultry products value.
The initiative is comprised by a multidisciplinary team coordinated by Galician Enterprise-University Foundation (FEUGA), and with the participation of Hifas Veterinary, Neoalgae and Grupo Uvesa.
The Technological Center AINIA, the University of Vigo, the Instituto de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentarias (IRTA) and the University of Oviedo, act as subcontracted members. Moreover, AECA, FEDNA, CESFAC and AVIANZA, are collaborators.
MICOALGA-FEED is an innovation project 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 Program 2014-2020. The General Directorate of Rural Development, Innovation and Agrifood Training (GDRDIAT) is the authority in charge of the application of this aids. Total project budget: 524,847.66€. Total grant: 505,519.66€.
The Operational Group MICOALGA-FEED is responsible of this content.
