News & Updates

Since our last update, we have been working through a series of trials to identify and fine-tune the most suitable cultivation conditions for our system.

We have been experimenting with different combinations of lighting conditions, temperature and mixing, continuously adjusting the system based on the response of the cultures.

After several trials and adjustments, we have now achieved a stable and continuous cultivation process that has been able to meet the microalgae requirements of our hatchery for more than 70 consecutive days... and counting! 📈

At the same time, we currently maintain three different microalgae species, all successfully acclimated to our cultivation conditions and kept in good condition, ready to be used whenever needed.

With this achievement, we have not only reached the cultivation target we had set for the first year of the project, but exceeded it, providing a strong foundation for the next stages of CYMABIO.

There is, of course, still much more to test, optimize and learn as we continue developing the cultivation process and improving the performance of the system.🌿

And on a fitting day for this update, we are also celebrating World Algae Day, highlighting the importance and potential of algae in aquaculture, biotechnology and beyond.🌍🌱 

A major milestone for CYMABIO🎯

On June 22nd, we reached another important milestone in the project: the full photobioreactor was successfully brought into operation for cultivation.

After the initial inoculation and the successful development of the culture, we were able to utilize the complete reactor and move further into the scale-up process.

Reaching this stage also marked the successful completion of the operational target we had set for the first year of the project.

Seeing the entire system working as an integrated cultivation platform is a rewarding moment after all the preparation, testing, troubleshooting and optimization that brought us here.

There is still a lot ahead, with further optimization and development to come, but completing this first-year milestone gives us a strong foundation for the next stage of CYMABIO. 🌱 

Another major milestone in the project was achieved on June 13th🚀

After successfully establishing and monitoring the culture in the smaller reactor, we moved on to the next stage of the process: the inoculation of the large-scale reactor.

The culture was transferred into the larger system, marking an important step towards scaling up our cultivation process.

From this point onwards, we closely monitored the culture and the reactor conditions as the biomass developed and adapted to the new environment. Watching the culture progressively grow inside the larger reactor was an exciting moment and a strong indication that the system was moving in the right direction.

This stage represents an important transition from initial system validation to larger-scale cultivation, bringing us closer to our overall production goals.

🌱 One more step forward in the journey towards scale-up. 

Another step forward 🌱

Following the first inoculation of the reactor on June 5th, we continued monitoring the culture as it developed inside the system.

Over the following days, the culture gradually adapted to the reactor conditions and showed clear signs of growth, marking an important step in the cultivation process.

At the same time, we continued maintaining the remaining cultures in good condition, keeping them as a backup and ensuring we were prepared for any unexpected situation during the scale-up process.

We also made some improvements to the cultivation area, focusing on making the workspace more practical and convenient for the daily operation and monitoring of the system.

Seeing the culture developing inside the reactor while continuously improving our setup is an exciting part of the project and brings us one step closer to achieving the desired scale-up.

More to come! 

Following the successful completion of the system validation phase, the CYMABIO project has now entered the cultivation stage.

Our focus has shifted to establishing and optimizing the growth of two selected microalgae species. Based on the nutritional requirements of our target aquaculture application and the capabilities of our cultivation system, we are evaluating different cultivation conditions to identify the most suitable cultivation protocols.

During this stage, we are assessing the effect of different cultivation parameters, including light conditions, temperature, mixing, and nutrient availability, on culture growth and stability. The information collected will be used to optimize the cultivation process before transferring the cultures to larger production systems.

These experiments are an important part of the scale-up process, allowing us to verify that the selected cultivation conditions support consistent growth and can be applied reliably in the next stages of the project.🧫🌱

We will continue sharing updates as the project progresses. 

A New Milestone,

On June 5th, we reached another important milestone in the project: the first inoculation of the photobioreactor Phyco-Lift.

After completing the necessary system testing and optimization, we were ready to introduce the first culture into the reactor and take the next step towards scale-up.

This marks an important transition from system validation to active cultivation, bringing the project one step closer to full-scale operation.

🌱 More updates coming soon as we continue monitoring the cultures and optimizing the system. 

Progress isn't just about reaching milestones—it's about testing, learning, and improving every step of the way.

We continued with the critical testing phase to validate the system.

The first step was filling the entire system with sterilized seawater to evaluate water circulation, flow patterns, and determine the optimal ventilation requirements. We also tested different light intensities and wavelengths to identify the conditions that will best support healthy culture growth.

Of course, not everything worked perfectly on the first attempt.

A few unexpected issues and challenges emerged during testing, but that's exactly why this phase is so important. Each obstacle provided valuable insights, allowing us to fine-tune the system and improve its overall performance. Fortunately, all issues were addressed quickly, and the system is now operating as intended.

With these tests successfully completed, we're ready for the next exciting milestone: the acclimation and scale-up of the master cultures we've recently acquired.

It's rewarding to see the project gradually transition from design and construction to a fully functional cultivation platform. There is still plenty of work ahead, but each step brings us closer to our goal.

Stay tuned for more updates as the journey continues. 🔧 ⚙️ 

We are proud to announce that the CYMABIO project has successfully completed all construction, installation, and facility setup activities carried out between 07/2025 and 03/2026.

The infrastructure is now fully established, and the project is ready to move into operation.

This marks an important step forward for CYMABIO and its contribution to sustainable microalgae production for aquaculture applications. 🐟 🌱