One year of Purple4Life: building momentum for sustainable food and feed innovation
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One year after its launch, Purple4Life continues to advance the development of innovative food and feed solutions based on purple phototrophic bacteria (PPB). Over the past months, the consortium has strengthened its scientific, technological and stakeholder engagement activities, bringing PPB-based circular bioeconomy solutions closer to practical application.
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Watch the Purple4Life Year 1 Highlights
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Discover the main achievements of Purple4Life's first year. From scientific advances and collaborative research to stakeholder engagement and consortium activities, this video highlights the progress made towards developing sustainable food and feed solutions based on Purple Phototrophic Bacteria (PPB).
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Purple4Life partners convene at URJC for the first Annual General Assembly
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On 21 May 2026, the Purple4Life consortium gathered at Universidad Rey Juan Carlos in Móstoles, Madrid, for its first Annual General Assembly. The meeting marked a key milestone in the project’s first year and provided an opportunity to review progress across work packages, discuss strategic priorities with the Advisory Board, and align the next phase of implementation.
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Partner research advances across the consortium
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TU Delft — exploring new strategies for efficient PPB cultivation
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TU Delft has advanced its work on the cultivation of R. rubrum, including coordinated experimental activities with UMons and the preparation of dedicated lab facilities. Recent research has explored the transition from photoheterotrophic to chemoheterotrophic metabolism using adapted growth media, as well as modelling approaches to better understand mixotrophic growth under dark and light conditions.
The team has also started investigating discontinuous lighting strategies, with preliminary modelling suggesting that this approach could contribute to significant cost savings in future PPB production processes.
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URJC — activities and research highlights
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Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (URJC) has carried out an intensive first year of research and outreach. Highlights include the screening and kinetic evaluation of several Rhodopseudomonas strains, the optimization of a protocol for Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) quantification, and the start of bioelectrochemical experiments to boost high-value compound production. The team also took part in international workshops, conferences and training schools, and carried out a wide programme of science communication and dissemination activities.
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CNR — advancing novel food safety assessment for PPB strains
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Researchers at the National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Sciences of Food Production in Lecce, Italy, are conducting food safety testing on selected PPB strains. Using human cell culture models, including the Caco-2 intestinal model, the team assesses cell viability and potential biological effects through dose-response experiments and MTS assays.
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First Purple4Life workshop in Mons signals breakthrough moment for sustainable food and feed innovation
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The first Purple4Life workshop in Mons brought together researchers, innovators and stakeholders working on purple phototrophic bacteria. The event highlighted the growing potential of PPB technologies for sustainable food and feed applications.
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Partner expertise advancing PPB-based innovation
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Nofima contributes applied food research expertise across the value chain, supporting the evaluation of PPB-based ingredients and their potential role in sustainable food and feed systems.
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Fraunhofer IMTE supports Purple4Life through its expertise in fish nutrition and aquatic animal health, evaluating the potential of PPB as innovative feed ingredients.
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What does “sustainable” really mean in future food systems?
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Sustainability in future food systems is not only about reducing environmental impact. It also involves efficient resource use, nutritional value, economic viability, scalability, social acceptance and long-term resilience.
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Purple4Life Project · info@purple4life.eu
Grant Agreement No. 101212806 · CBE JU – Horizon Europe
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