Euglena × RIKEN will start "Euglena Project for Everyone" on April 3 (Wednesday)
-Let's search for "local Euglena" all over Japan! Conducting crowdfunding and citizen participation research ~

Euglena Co., Ltd.
RIKEN

　Euglena Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President: Mitsuru Izumo, hereinafter Euglena) and RIKEN (Headquarters: Wovn, Saitama Prefecture, Chairman: Hiroshi Matsumoto, hereinafter RIKEN) ) Announces that the "Minna no Midorimushi Project" will start on April 3rd (Wednesday) to collect and research "local Midorimushi" from all over Japan through cloud funding and citizen participation research.

　​^{Euglena and RIKEN have set up a joint research team * 1} from April 1, 2018 to develop innovative production intervention technology for increasing biofuel production of microalgae. Previous studies by this team have revealed that different habitats produce individuals of the same species, Euglena (also known as Euglena), with different traits. By collecting Euglena with various traits (hereinafter referred to as new trait strains) and creating a library, it is expected that each trait can be utilized in various industries.
* 1: Joint microalgae production control technology research team under the "Integrated Collaborative Research System with Industry" (scheduled from April 2018 to March 2023).

　Under such circumstances, in this "Minna no Midorimushi Project", we will collect new trait strains of Euglena and conduct research to discover the possibility of industrial use of the collected new trait strains. Specifically, by soliciting donations for the project through crowdfunding and distributing the water sampling kit for collecting Euglena created with the donations to collaborators all over Japan as a citizen participation type research, all over Japan. We are planning to collect "local Euglena" through sampling (target 1000 points) in the lake. The gathered "local Euglena" will be analyzed in various ways to examine its potential for use in the healthcare and fuel fields.
　Through the "Euglena Project for Everyone", we aim to provide more people with the enjoyment of touching living things and opportunities for research.
　The details are as follows.

About "Euglena Project for Everyone"

■ Purpose
　In the "Minna no Midorimushi Project", we will carry out research such as collecting "local euglena" from all over Japan and analyzing the collected "local euglena" to examine the possibility of industrial use. In addition, through the "Euglena Project for Everyone", we aim to provide more people with the enjoyment of touching living things and opportunities for research.

■ Implementation details
　Using the RIKEN version of the crowdfunding system, we solicited donations (1 million yen) for the project and distributed a water sampling kit for collecting green worms created with the donations to collaborators all over Japan. We request sampling of "local green worms" in lakes and marshes nationwide (target 1000 points). The collected "local Euglena" was analyzed by a joint research team of Euglena and RIKEN, which identified new trait strains and made them into a library, as well as molecular phylogenetic analysis, trait analysis, and gene expression analysis. We will consider using the results for research and development such as biofuels and healthcare.
　In addition, we plan to send the final report, provide the research results by the cloud system, and invite to the lecture to the donors and the sampling collaborators of "Local Euglena".

Mechanism of "Euglena Project for Everyone"

■ Schedule (planned)
・ April 3-May 31, 2019: Fundraising by RIKEN crowdfunding
・ June-August 2019: Collection and analysis of "local Euglena"
・ August 2019: Implementation of interim report to donors
・ September 2019-February 2020: Various analyzes of Euglena
・ March 2020: To donors and cooperators of collecting "local Euglena"
　　　　　　　Sending the final report, presentation at academic conferences, etc.

■ How to participate
① Crowdfunding
　Participation method: The event will be held using the RIKEN crowdfunding system.
　　　　　　For details on participation, please see the RIKEN website below.
　　　　　　http://www.riken.jp/about/support/solicited/
(2) Citizen participation type research (collection of "local Euglena")
　Participation method: We are recruiting on the "Euglena Project for Everyone" website (from June 2019).
　　　　　　In addition, we are planning to participate in schools targeted for Super Science High School (high school credits).
　　　　　　For more information on participation, please see the "Euglena Project for Everyone" website below.
　　　　　　https://www.algae-tech.jp/minmido

<About microalgae Euglena >
　Microalgae Euglena (Japanese name: Euglena) is a type of alga that has the characteristics of both plants and animals and contains abundant types of nutrients such as vitamins and minerals in a well-balanced manner. In 2005, Euglena Co., Ltd. succeeded in mass edible outdoor culture for the first time in the world.
<About RIKEN>
　RIKEN is the only comprehensive research institute for natural sciences in Japan, and is conducting research in a wide range of fields including physics, engineering, chemistry, mathematical and information science, computational science, biology, and medical science.

​ ​

-Contact for inquiries from the press-
Euglena Co., Ltd. Corporate Communication Division