Establishing a Venture Philanthropy Organisation in Europe

This is the second edition of a working paper that was first published in 2008. Its goal is to assist start-up or early-stage Venture Philanthropy organisations (VPOs) in Europe by providing an insight into "what works" in a European context. It provides a definition of VP, an account for its evolution and latest developments, and a practical guide to how to set up and run a VP organisation. The new edition takes into account the enhanced experience of existing VPOs, the emergence of new VPOs or new financing instruments and the changes in the financial and economic climates in Europe and around the globe in the past years

A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO VENTURE PHILANTHROPY AND SOCIAL IMPACT INVESTMENT

This publication combines the learnings and experiences of practitioners across Europe and the results of several years of EVPA research, giving you access to everything you need to know about setting up and running a VP organisation or social impact investment fund. This Guide is useful for anyone wanting to understand the venture philanthropy approach, and/or start their own venture philanthropy or social impact investment fund

Optimization of Rhodomonas sp. under continuous cultivation for industrial applications in aquaculture

The microalgae species Rhodomonas sp. is commonly used in aquaculture for its high nutritional value due to the eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) content. Understanding the effect of cultivation parameters on biomass production rate and composition is presently limited, however essential in further commercialization of this strain. Under nutrient replete conditions, light intensity and temperature are the main factors determining biomass growth and composition. Therefore, the combined effect of light and temperature on the biomass production rate and biomass composition of Rhodomonas sp. was studied using a statistical Design of Experiment approach. Rhodomonas sp. was cultivated under continuous (turbidostat) conditions in lab-scale reactor systems (1.8 l) under different temperature (15–20–25–30 °C) and light conditions (60–195–330–465–600 μmol m−2 s−1). Stable biomass production was observed under all conditions except experiments performed at 30 °C, which led to cell death. Under optimized growth conditions, high growth rates (>1.0d−1) and high biomass production rates, up to 1.5 g l−1 d−1, were obtained in this study. The biomass production rate reported here is >10-fold higher than values reported in literature on Rhodomonas sp. The optimal temperature for maximal growth was found at T = 22–24 °C under all light conditions. The maximum biomass yield on light (Yx,ph – 0.87 g mol−1) was found at light levels between 110 and 220 μmol m−2 s−1. The fatty acid profile was only significantly influenced by temperature, with higher EPA and DHA contents at lower temperatures (15 °C). A total fatty acid (TFA) content of 8–10% of the total dry-weight was found for all tested conditions. The EPA content fluctuated between 9 and 16% of TFA and DHA content between 6 and 9% of TFA, only affected by temperature. A maximum EPA + DHA production rate of 114 mg l‐−1 d−1 was obtained at 20 °C and high light (600 μmol m−2 s−1) conditions.publishedVersionPaid Open Acces

Production of Rhodomonas sp. at pilot scale under sunlight conditions

publishedVersionPaid Open Acces

Industrial microalgae production for aquaculture hatcheries

In this thesis the cost price of microalgae production in aquaculture hatcheries and the effect of cost reduction strategies on the biomass quality is studied. The cost price of microalgae production in aquaculture hatcheries and cost reduction strategies is described with a techno-economic model using Rhodomonas sp. as an example species for microalgae production in aquaculture. The effect of growth conditions on the biomass yield on light and the biomass quality is studied on both laboratory scale and pilot scale. A techno-economic model to describe the cost price for microalgae cultivation in aquaculture hatcheries was developed. The model is based on inputs from hatcheries in the Dutch aquaculture industry. The calculations compare modular production systems (bubble-columns) and scalable production systems (tubular photobioreactors). On a production scale presently applied in Dutch aquaculture hatcheries (125 kg year-1) the modular reactor systems result in a biomass cost price of €587,- kgDW-1 for production under artificial light and €573,- kgDW-1 using sunlight. The scalable production systems result in lower production costs with €290,- kgDW-1 using artificial light and €329 kgDW-1 with sunlight. The most efficient cost reduction strategies are identified as: 1) increasing biomass yield on light, 2) applying more artificial light and 3) reducing labor requirements. The cost price can be reduced to € 96,- kgDW-1 by implementation of cost reduction strategies at the same scale (20 m2) using scalable production under artificial light conditions. Production of biomass at a larger scale (1500m2) using scalable production systems combined with cost reduction strategies can result in a cost price of €23,47 kgDW-1. Using the algae Rhodomonas sp. as example species for algae in aquaculture, the growth of this strain under continuous cultivation conditions was characterized. The effect of light (60-600 µmol m-2 s-1) and temperature (15-30 °C) on the growth rate, biomass production rate, biomass yield on light and the fatty acid content and composition was studied. Growth rates of > 1.0 d-1, with biomass production rates up to 1.5 g l-1 d-1 are described. The highest biomass yield on light (0.87 g mol-1) is found at a temperature of 22-24 °C and light intensity of 110-220 µmol m-2 s-1. The total fatty acid content fluctuates between 8-10% of the dry-weight with an EPA+DHA concentration of 14-25% of the total fatty acids. The total fatty acid content and EPA and DHA content of the cells was only influenced by the cultivation temperature. The effect of daily oscillations of temperature and light on the biomass yield on light and on the biomass fatty acid content and profile was studied. Under the optimized growth conditions for biomass yield on light for continuous conditions, the oscillations of both light and temperature in a 16:8 day:night cycle did not result in an increase of the biomass yield on light. At higher light conditions (600 µmol m-2 s-1) a 22% increase of the biomass yield on light of was found with a day:night cycle compared to continuous light. In a day:night cycle with daily oscillations for light and temperature the fatty acid content and compositions of the cells varied greatly with the moment of the day. Highest total fatty acid concentrations (91 ± 4 mg gDW-1) were found in the first hours after sunrise whereas the highest EPA+DHA content (16 ± 1 mg gDW-1) is found at the end of the night period. Pilot-scale experiments with Rhodomonas sp. in tubular photobioreactors were performed to test the large scale potential of this algae. Successful cultivation of Rhodomonas sp. at pilot-scale using sunlight conditions is described for the first time in literature. Rhodomonas sp. was produced over a period of 6 months, from February till July representing all sunlight conditions available in the Dutch climate. An average biomass yield on light of 0.29 ± 0.16 g mol-1 was obtained, which is lower that the yields obtained in the laboratory experiments. The biomass production rates obtained (< 0.25 g l-1 d-1) were lower than those obtained in the lab experiments (<1.5 g l-1 d-1). Further optimization of Rhodomonas sp. production at pilot scale seems to be possible. The effect of high light intensities on the growth of Rhodomonas sp. should be studied at lab scale. New lab experiments with high light intensities could reveal the potential for higher biomass production rates at large scale under sunlight conditions. With lab data on the effect of cost reduction strategies on the biomass yield on light and the biomass fatty acid content and composition a more realistic view on cost reduction potential can be described by combining the experimental data with the techno-economic model. The combination of experimental data and the techno-economic model shows that optimization of the growth parameters towards cost efficient production of a strain can result in large cost reductions. The most cost-efficient production is not obtained at growth conditions for maximal biomass yield on light nor at the conditions where maximal biomass productivity is maximal. The most cost efficient growth conditions for Rhodomonas sp. production using scalable production systems and artificial light at a scale of 100m2 is at a temperature of 23-25 °C and light levels between 400-500 µmol m-2 s-1. The increased biomass yield on light resulting from the implementation of a day:night cycle does not result in a cost reduction if applied at scales typically applied at aquaculture hatcheries, or with the modular production systems. A cost reduction (up to 10%) can be achieved at a scale >250m2 when using scalable production systems when implementing a day:night cycle. Considering all experimental data and inputs on the techno-economic model it is concluded that the production of microalgae for aquaculture hatcheries should be performed using artificial light and scalable production systems. The implementation of a centralized microalgae production facility will result in a great cost price reduction. A cost reduction of 80% can be achieved if algae production of ten hatcheries is combined in a production facility utilizing scalable production systems, compared to individual hatcheries maintaining a modular microalgae production facility

Optimization of Rhodomonas sp. under continuous cultivation for industrial applications in aquaculture

The microalgae species Rhodomonas sp. is commonly used in aquaculture for its high nutritional value due to the eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) content. Understanding the effect of cultivation parameters on biomass production rate and composition is presently limited, however essential in further commercialization of this strain. Under nutrient replete conditions, light intensity and temperature are the main factors determining biomass growth and composition. Therefore, the combined effect of light and temperature on the biomass production rate and biomass composition of Rhodomonas sp. was studied using a statistical Design of Experiment approach. Rhodomonas sp. was cultivated under continuous (turbidostat) conditions in lab-scale reactor systems (1.8 l) under different temperature (15–20–25–30 °C) and light conditions (60–195–330–465–600 μmol m−2 s−1). Stable biomass production was observed under all conditions except experiments performed at 30 °C, which led to cell death. Under optimized growth conditions, high growth rates (>1.0d−1) and high biomass production rates, up to 1.5 g l−1 d−1, were obtained in this study. The biomass production rate reported here is >10-fold higher than values reported in literature on Rhodomonas sp. The optimal temperature for maximal growth was found at T = 22–24 °C under all light conditions. The maximum biomass yield on light (Yx,ph – 0.87 g mol−1) was found at light levels between 110 and 220 μmol m−2 s−1. The fatty acid profile was only significantly influenced by temperature, with higher EPA and DHA contents at lower temperatures (15 °C). A total fatty acid (TFA) content of 8–10% of the total dry-weight was found for all tested conditions. The EPA content fluctuated between 9 and 16% of TFA and DHA content between 6 and 9% of TFA, only affected by temperature. A maximum EPA + DHA production rate of 114 mg l‐−1 d−1 was obtained at 20 °C and high light (600 μmol m−2 s−1) conditions

Data for: Production of phycocyanin by Leptolyngbya sp. in desert environments

Experimental data for light and temperature experiments for biomass and phycocyanin production under turbidostat cultivation conditions for Leptolyngbya sp. QUCCCM 56 Statistical Analysis data files for phycocyanin extraction from A. platensis and Leptolyngbya sp. QUCCCM 5

Production of phycocyanin by Leptolyngbya sp. in desert environments

Leptolyngbya sp. QUCCCM 56 was investigated as a possible alternative to A. platensis, for the production of phycocyanin-rich biomass under desert conditions. Under elevated temperatures and light intensities, of up to 40 °C and 1800 μmol·m−2·s−1, the strain's biomass productivity was up to 45% higher as compared to reported productivities for A. platensis, with comparable phycocyanin content. Increasing temperatures were found to improve the biomass productivity and phycocyanin content, which, at 40 °C, were 1.09 ± 0.03 gX·L−1·d−1 and 72.12 ± 3.52 mgPC·gX−1, respectively. The optimum biomass productivity was found at a light intensity of 300 μmol·m−2·s−1, with higher light intensities causing a decrease of 15%. Furthermore, of the various phycocyanin extraction methods tested, bead-beating in phosphate buffer had the highest combined phycocyanin yield (169.9 ± 3.6 mgPC·gX) and purity (7.37 ± 0.16) for Leptolyngbya sp. For A. platensis, this extraction method also resulted in the highest extract purities (3.78 ± 0.04). The extract purities obtained for Leptolyngbya sp. are considerably higher than other reported phycocyanin purities, and further investigation is recommended to study the scale-up of both Leptolyngbya sp. and bead-beating for commercial scale high-grade phycocyanin production under desert conditions.The authors would like to thank Ms. Ghamza Al Ghazal, Mr. Mohammad Dadrahim Mollazehi, and the QDVC team for their support. This work was supported by QDVC and Qatar University [Project: QUEX-CAS-QDVC-14/15-7]