AI4aMOST: Smart Resource Optimization in Natural Ingredient Production
AI for Agile Manufacturing of Organic Synthesis & Extractions
CEAMSA (Compañía Española de Algas Marinas) is a Spanish company specializing in the production, development, and global distribution of natural hydrocolloids, widely used across the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics industries. Renowned for its focus on high-quality, sustainable ingredients, CEAMSA continuously seeks to enhance the environmental performance of its production processes.
As part of the AI4aMOST experiment, CEAMSA aimed to improve resource efficiency, particularly in the pectin production line, where energy and water consumption are critical operational concerns. By leveraging AI and process optimization tools, the company focused on reducing its ecological footprint while maintaining product quality.
Sustainable Ingredient Production
AI-driven resource optimization
Adapting processes to be competitive in a global market with seasonal organic yields and variability in the supply chain.
Decision-making regarding the pectin extraction process prioritizes productivity, leading to excessive water use and significant losses of water and energy.
AI4Amost implemented AI to assist decision making in process control, analysing historical data to extract operational rules and optimize parameter settings using Reinforcement Learning.
This facilitates decision-making by the operator and balances productivity with sustainability.
- Over 10 % Reduction in Water Consumption during Pectin Production:
- Process improvements guided by AI allowed for more efficient water usage, decreasing the volume needed in extraction and cleaning stages;
- Proportional Energy Savings:
- As less water required reheating throughout the process, CEAMSA also achieved significant reductions in energy consumption, contributing to both cost savings and sustainability goals.
CEAMSA plans to extend the AI-based optimization approach beyond pectin production to other hydrocolloid lines, aiming to further reduce water and energy consumption throughout its operations. The success of AI4aMOST has also encouraged the company to explore advanced monitoring and control systems that could enable real-time process adjustments.
These developments will contribute to CEAMSA’s broader sustainability goals while reinforcing its position as an innovator in the natural ingredients industry. Long-term, the company envisions using AI as a cornerstone of its digital transformation strategy.