Workshop 2026

Boosting the use of PPB as innovative food and feed ingredients: From metabolism to health-promoting effects

 

19 – 20th March 2026 | Mons – Belgium

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Call for participation | Send your Abstract | Program | Speakers | Venue | Transportation | Accommodation

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Call for participation

This is a call for participating to the joined workshop organized by the Purple4Life Horizon EU project and the COST action (CA21146) – PURPLEGAIN.

This workshop is the 10th Workshop of PurpleGain and is organised in the frame of WG 1. The workshop will take place the 19-20 March 2026, in Mons – Belgium

We invite participations as well as abstract contributions (for Oral and Pitches presentations) to this interdisciplinary workshop from:

  • PhD students & post-doctoral researchers working on PPB-related technologies.
  • Professors & academic researchers exploring PPB applications.
  •  Start-ups & entrepreneurs developing PPB-based products and processes.
  • Technology developers & innovators working on PPB solutions for resource recovery.
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KEY DATES

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Communication and confirmation: 15th of February 2026.

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Registration: (Closed) until 15 February 2026

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Registration open: 1st of December 2026

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Funding deadlines: (Closed) until 31 January 2026

Send your abstract

We are looking for a broad range of PPB-based innovations, including but not limited to:

  • Fundamental or applied research on metabolism of PPB
  • Strategy to improve PPB productivity both at metabolic and process level.
  • Use of PPB high-value feed and protein-rich biomass for aquaculture and livestock.
  • Strategy to improve feed quality in aquaculture using natural biomass.
  • Natural source of health promoting ingredient boosting CoQ10 metabolism in human
  • Functional food and nutraceutical applications, such as antioxidant and carotenoid production.
  • Market access for PPB based feed and food product
  • Regulatory aspect applying onPPB based feed and food product.

If you have a breakthrough concept, a lab-scale prototype, or a commercial pilot, we want to hear from you!

Abstracts should be a maximum of 350 words outlining your work, technology, solution, or business case, and should include:

  • The question your work addresses or the key challenges you tackle.
  • Technology/solution/methodology description.
  • Main results/observations.
  • Conclusion.
  • Potential market impact and sustainability benefits.

Contributors and attendees may apply for financial support (see the Financial Support section).

Download Abstract Template

Financial Support

Contributors and attendees may apply for financial support through the COST Action PurpleGain

Program

19th of March
Time Title Speaker
9:00–9:30 Registration
9:30–9:40 Opening Remarks by PURPLE4LIFE
Session I: Metabolism for an Improved PPB production
9:40–10:40 Light Capture in PPB: fundamentals and perspectives Andrew Hitchcock, University of Sheffield, UK
10:40–11:00 Oral presentation “Environmental Stress as a Driver of Pigment Modulation in Rhodobacter capsulatus”, by Javier Llamas Saus
11:00–11:30 Coffee Break
11:30–12:30 Oral presentations

11:30-11:50 – “Bioelectrochemical production of food-grade value-added compounds by Rhodopseudomonas during biogas upgrading”, by MarĂ­a JosĂ© GarcĂ­a LĂłpez

11:50-12:10 – “Impact of salinity on pigments and antioxidant properties of purple bacteria”, by Sara Olyslaegers

12:10-12:30 – “Effective light management as a lever to improve productivity in purple phototrophic bacteria”, by Salim Kichouh Aiadi
12:30–14:00 Lunch Break and Poster session
Session II : Regulatory aspect of PPB introduction in feed/food market
14:00–14:45 Road map to the novel food by Mari Eskola, Medfile
14:45–15:15 Regulatory path to the feed additive market by Marta Ponghellini, Consultant in European Legislation on Food Chain and
Animal Health, Belgium
15:15–16:00 From authorisation to official control: Which analytical methods really matter for feed additives? by Christoph Von Holst, Active Senior at the European Commission®s Joint Research Centre, Belgium
16:00–16:30 Round table on regulatory challenges – policy evolution by Mari Eskola (Medfile), Marta Ponghellini (European Legislation on Food Chain and
Animal Health), and Christoph Von Holst (European CommissionÂŽs Joint Research
Centre)
16:30–16:45 Coffee Break
16:45–17:45 Oral presentations

16:45-17:05 – “Safety Evaluation of Purple Phototrophic Bacteria Biomass Using In Vitro and In Silico Methods”, by Beatrice Aiuto

17:05-17:25 –  “Checking the environmental relevance of bacterial biomass as a food product – LCA in the PROTEBoost project”, by Olivier Talon

17:25-17:45 – “Directed evolution for improving[GB1.1][BL1.2][BL1.3] the upcycling of glucose-rich by-products using phototrophic purple bacteria”, by Manon Gilson
17:45–18:15 Poster Pitches

17:45-17:50 – “Checking the environmental relevance of bacterial biomass as a food product – LCA in the PROTEBoost project”, by Guillaume Bayon-Vicente

17:50-17:55 – “Integrating purple non-sulfur bacteria for agro-industrial waste valorization: optimization of biomass and hydrogen production”, by Chiara Capelli

17:55-18:00 – “Purple Phototrophic Bacteria (PPB) production from fermented wine lees: an insight into polyhydroxyalkanoates and pigments synthesis”, by Aditi Parmar Chitharanjan

18:00-18:05 – “Integrating purple non-sulfur bacteria for agro-industrial waste valorization: optimization of biomass and hydrogen production”, by Karima Guehaz

18:05-18:10 – “Engineering Microbial Selectivity: Operational Strategies for PNSB-Based Resource Recovery in Open Systems”, by Parashant Anand
19:00 Walking dinner and networking
20th of March



20th of March

Time Title Speaker
9:00–9:30 Registration
Session I: PPB and Feed Product
9:30–10:30 Innovative ingredient for improving feed in aquaculture by Katerina Kousoulaki, Nofima, Norway
10:30–10:50 Oral presentation (selected abstract) “Improved color, health and nutrition of ornamental fish fed with purple bacteria”, by Luis DĂ­az Allegue
10:50–11:10 Coffee Break
11:10–12:30 Oral presentations (selected abstracts) 11:10–11:30 – “A dish with no fish: How DHA-free microalgae and linseed oil enhance n-3 LC-PUFA biosynthesis in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)”, by Anna Simon
11:30–11:50 – “Tailoring Egg Lipids Through Hen Nutrition: Human Health Effects and Opportunities for Novel Lipid Sources”, by Emeline Dierge
11:50–12:10 – “Diet composition and environment interact and control flesh color in salmon”, by Trine Ytrestoyl
12:10–12:30 – “Valorisation of Food Industry By-Products for Single-Cell Protein Production”, by Liudmyla Fihurska
12:30–13:30 Lunch Break and Poster session
Session II: PPB as Human Health-Promoting Ingredient – Added Value of Microbial Biomass
13:30–14:30 CoQ10 and human health by Plácido Navas, UPO, Spain
14:30–15:10 Oral presentations (selected abstracts)

14:30–14:50  “Vitamin B12 production in Purple Non-Sulfur Bacteria: Impact of autotrophy versus heterotrophy and anaerobic versus aerobic conditions”, by NaĂŻm Blansaer

14:50–15:10 – “Lipid extraction and Coenzyme Q10 quantification in purple phototrophic bacteria”, by Daniel JosĂ© Moreno FernĂĄndez-Ayala
15:10–15:30 Coffee Break
15:30–16:30 Oral presentations (selected abstratcs)

15:30–15:50 – “Purple phototrophic bacteria as a sustainable protein source: bioaccessibility and functional responses during in vitro digestion”, by Malou Nuyts

15:50–16:10 – “Optimising spraydrying to maximise antioxidant capacity in purple bacterial biomass”, by Rosaria Tizzani
16:30–18:00 Concluding remarks and networking drink

Speakers

Dr Andy Hitchcock

Andrew Hitchcock

Royal Society Research Fellow/ Lecturer of School of Biosciences. University of Sheffield, UK

Mari Eskola - Dr, Senior Regulatory Affairs Expert at Medfiles

Mari Eskola

Dr, Senior Regulatory Affairs Expert at Medfiles, Finland

Katerina Kousoulaki

Katerina Kousoulaki

Senior researcher in nutrition at Nofim, Norway

Christoph von Holst

Christoph von Holst

Active senior at the European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Geel, Belgium

Summary of the talk
Q

From authorisation to official control: Which analytical methods really matter for feed additives?

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PlĂĄcido Navas

PlĂĄcido Navas

Senior researcher. Andalusian Centre for Developmental Biology (CABD) UPO

Marta Ponghellini

Marta Ponghellini

Deputy Head of Unit in the Animal Nutrition-Veterinary Medicines division at the DG SANTE

Summary of the CV
Q

Dr. Marta Ponghellini

Close

Venue

All conferences will take place on the campus “Plaine de Nimy” of UMONS, in building VĂ©sale, avenue du champs de mars 6, 7000 Mons, Belgium

Transportation information
If your flight arrives at Charleroi Airport (Brussels South)

If you arrive at Brussels South Charleroi Airport, you have two main options to reach Mons.

  1. Shuttle Service: The most affordable is a shuttle bus service that connects the airport directly to Mons in approximately 50 minutes, with a ticket price of €13.50. Once you arrive at the drop-off point in Mons, it takes about 15 to 20 minutes on foot to reach the city centre. More information: https://www.flibco.com/en.
  2. Taxis: Alternatively, taxis and ride-sharing services are available for a faster, though more expensive, journey. Prices generally range between €50 and €100 depending on the time and provider. Advance booking is strongly recommended. We can recommend Navette Devos. (based in Mons).
If your flight arrives at Brussels Airport
  1. Train: If your flight lands at Brussels Airport, you can take a direct train to Mons departing straight from the airport, with services running approximately every hour. The train ride takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes, and a standard adult ticket costs around €25. You can consult schedules and purchase tickets via the SNCB website.
  2. Shuttle Service or Taxi: Shuttle services or taxis are also available. Prices and availability may vary and advance booking is strongly recommended. We can recommend Navette Devos.
Accommodation information

UMONS recommends the following hotels, conveniently located in or near the city centre

Van der Valk Hotel Mons CongrĂšs & Spa

Located just outside the city centre, the Van der Valk Hotel Mons CongrĂšs is ideally situated right across from the new Mons railway station. It is a 15-minute walk or a short 5-minute drive from the meeting location.

Address: Avenue MĂ©lina Mercouri 7, 7000 Mons

Hotel B&B centre

Located near the city centre, within a 5-minute walking distance from the meeting location and about a 15-minute walk from the train station.

Address : Rue des Arbalestriers, 112 – 7000 Mons

Website: B&B HOTEL Mons Centre: a comfortable hotel in the centre of Mons

Bookings: bb_7518@hotelbb.com.

Martin’s Dream Hotel**

A charming 4-star hotel located in the heart of Mons’ historic city centre within a 13-minute walking distance from the meeting location and from the train station.

Address: Rue de la Grande Triperie 17, 7000 Mons

Website: Martin’s Dream Hotel

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More information

For further information you may contact,

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