10180758Low-Energy Extraction for Sustainable Carotenoid Production from MicroalgaeClosedCollaborative R&DInnovate UKLutein is a high-value natural pigment widely used in dietary supplements, fortified foods, animal nutrition, and cosmeceuticals, with a current global market of £270-£315million, growing at around 6% annually. Nearly 75% of all lutein today is extracted from marigold flowers, mostly grown and processed in tropical regions under energy-intensive and multi-step conditions that limit sustainability, purity, and supply resilience. This Innovate UK--funded feasibility project, led by FutureAlgae in collaboration with London South Bank University (LSBU), will demonstrate a low-energy, recyclable process for extracting lutein directly from microalgae biomass found in UK waters. The method used is able to operate under mild conditions (=60 °C) to gently release carotenoids without the need for drying, high pressure, or mechanical cell disruption: a process that will increase yield, purity, and energy efficiency while enabling solvent recyclability, improving the overall resource efficiency and value per tonne of algae processed. The project outcomes will establish the technical and economic basis for a UK-grown, algae-derived lutein ingredient, reducing dependence on imported marigold supplies and advancing domestic bio-based manufacturing. It will also strengthen the UK's net-zero and resource-efficiency goals by reducing process energy use and waste generation. All experimental work will be carried out in the UK, with FutureAlgae managing project coordination, commercial planning, and biomass provision, and LSBU leading laboratory experimentation and analytical validation. By delivering a proven, recyclable extraction method, this project lays the foundation for sustainable microalgae biorefineries capable of producing multiple high-value biomolecules for the UK and global markets.