Network for the Valorization of Plant Materials (VPMA)

Alguesrouges (Red Algaes) (Sénégal)
I (90-1024); II (97-8155)

Principal investigators: 
M. Abdourahmane Tamba: SOS Environnement, Dakar (Sénégal) 
E-mail: [email protected] 
Dr. Thierry Chopin: Université du Nouveau-Brunswick, Nouveau-Brunswick, (Canada) 
E-mail: [email protected] 
Dr. Glyn Sharp: Ministère des pêches et océans du Canada, Halifax (Nouvelle Ecosse)   

In Senegal, the Algues rouges (Sénégal) Project has successfully developed a technique for evaluating the productive potential and the sustainable production of algae in the South Coast of Senegal. The annual biomas of red algae of Senegal is estimated at 17,000 tons (wet). The second phase of this project is presently working on adapting a technique for the extraction of carraghenans from these algaes. Thanks to the project, a national Committee for research, exploitation and valorization of algaes in Senegal was set up by a ministerial act. This committee is comprises of Senegalese economic actors and industrialists. The Société sénégalaise d'investissement (Senegalese Investment Company) was interested in the project activities and has initiated the development of its own project for the valorization of marine algaes in Senegal, i.e. ALGASEN. This company has already invested a lot of efforts in studies relating to their project. It is looking forward to conducting market tests of carraghenans samples in order to determine the commercial value of the product and to interest possible partners.