Dr. Afroditi Chatzifragkou: Microbial astaxanthin production and extraction strategy

Описание: Seminar Series: The Science of Alt. Protein
Microbial astaxanthin production and extraction strategy
Dr. Afroditi Chatzifragkou
University of Reading
January 8, 2026

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Valorisation of agri-food processing by-products and waste materials holds significant potential for microbially produced carotenoids. In this webinar, Professor Chatzifragkou discusses how she and her team have investigated the feasibility of rapeseed meal, a readily available by-product produced during rapeseed oil extraction, as a substrate for natural astaxanthin production by the yeast Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous. Aspects such as optimisation of media hydrolysis and fermentation process are presented, alongside strategies for the efficient extraction of astaxanthin from yeast biomass.

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Meet the speaker:

Afroditi Chatzifragkou is a Professor of Sustainable Bioprocessing in the Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences at the University of Reading. Afroditi’s expertise lies in food bioprocessing. Her research focuses on microbial fermentations and biorefineries, alternative proteins, as well as on optimization of green extraction technologies (supercritical fluid extraction, ultrasonication, enzymes) for functional compounds and food applications.


Moderator:
Amy Huang, Senior Associate Director of Scientific Ecosystems, The Good Food Institute

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About The Good Food Institute:
The Good Food Institute is a nonprofit think tank and international network of organizations working to accelerate alternative protein innovation to build a more sustainable, secure, and just food system.

Learn more at https://gfi.org/​

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