The pharmaceutical industry plays a vital role in our societies, producing the medicines that save the lives and maintain the health of millions of people. Providing this service to societies is complex and faces many challenges, such as complying with strict regulations at all stages of development and production; innovating and investing heavily in research while keeping product costs down; and improving the environmental footprint of its activities:

• Analysis and management of the ecotoxicity of pharmaceutical products,
• Sustainable production through eco-design,
• Use of raw materials with low environmental impact, 
• Fair and sustainable use of natural resources,
• Sustainable waste and packaging management.

Microalgae are first and foremost a potential source of active ingredients for the pharmaceutical industry, and a solution to the problem of sourcing sustainable raw materials.

In addition, the growing knowledge for producing heterologous molecules in microalgae opens up an alternative production route to bacteria and yeast, which does not require plant-based sugar for growth. With no need for plant inputs and no competition with food production in our fields, microalgae photosynthesis is powered solely by CO₂ and light.