Can “Microalgae” be the future of Agribusiness?
What are microalgae?
Microalgae is a unicellular, photosynthetic and aquatic organism without roots, stems, leaves and simple reproductive organism. These microphytes, typically found in freshwater or marine systems. Agribusiness is the most promising sector for algal exploitation. A high growth rate, a high ability to fix carbon dioxide and the potential to accumulate biogenic elements and light metals mean that algae can be used as a raw material for the production of biofertilizers, biopesticides, feeds and feed additives. This opens alternative ways for food acquisition, preserving both the food supply and the planet’s resources.
The oceans cover about 71% of the Earth’s surface, yet algae produce more than 71% of the Earth’s oxygen; in fact, some scientists believe that algae produce 87% of the world’s oxygen.
The versatility of Microalgae Applications
The introduction of microalgae in agriculture is the transition towards renewable, sustainable, and closed-loop bioeconomy. Though, sustainable production is one big barrier in algal research. The possibility of using algae in agriculture is vast.
1. Biofertilizers and Biostimulants: Microalgae fulfils the demand for sustainable biofertilizers and biostimulants. It not only increases product yield but also helps contribute to mitigating global warming problems. Both microalgae and seaweed have been reported as a source of biofertilizers and biostimulants capable to improve food production by agriculture at the same time that reducing the number of fossil-based fertilizers required.
Fossilized Algae are used to make dynamite.
2. Animal Feed: Algae in agricultural production, in terms of the means of agricultural production, is the production of feeds and feed additives. Due to their chemical composition and content of polyunsaturated fatty acids, marine algae can provide the raw material for the production of feeds and feed additives.
3. Algae in the food industry: Microalgae have entered the food market in the form of food supplements, mainly tablets, capsules or powders and sometimes liquid suspensions or extracts called “superfoods”. Active ingredients among which vitamins are of high significance for bioactivity, especially A, B, C and E vitamin groups as well as B vitamins coupled with niacin, biotin, nicotinate and acids such as folic and pantothenic. Its nutrient composition shows a high level of proteins, amino acids, hydrocolloids and antioxidant compound. This makes microalgae a future food that is more sustainable and with a lower carbon footprint. The most abundant utilization of seaweeds as food is observed in Asia, particularly Japan, Korea and China, where industrial seaweed cultivation is a part of the country’s economy.
Milligrams of carrageenan’s, a red algae extract, the average American consumes daily, often in dairy products: 250.
4. Biodiesel: Microalgae makes them an attractive starting point for biofuels research. Eukaryotic microalgae can possess in abundance — neutral lipids, which are rich in triacylglycerols (TAGs). Oils that are rich in neutral lipids are desirable in a biofuel context because of their potential high fuel yield. Because TAGs are made up of three molecules of fatty acids that are esterified — or altered — to one molecule of glycerol, close to 100 per cent of their weight can be converted into fuels.
Future Prospects
To produce abundant algal biomass, it is necessary to develop a new type of agriculture, focused on a microscopic crop. That will require novel methods for cultivation, harvesting and processing. There is a possibility of using algae biomass for energy purposes and the production of algae-based food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. Dynamic development of organic farming, growing awareness of farmers concerning environmental protection, changes in tastes and preferences of food consumers in the pro-ecological direction are some factors that may affect the increase in demand for biomass from algae in agriculture.
“We’re making new investments in the development of gasoline and diesel and jet fuel that’s actually made from a plant-like substance-algae… We could replace up to 17 percent of the oil we import for transportation with this fuel that we can grow right here in the United States.” ~ Barack Obama
The use of microalgae for agricultural purposes requires cooperation and joint actions of biotechnological companies, agricultural holdings as well as agricultural institutions and agencies. The development of the cultivation of algae and their use in the agricultural economy in terms of its low-carbon development can be considered in two dimensions: socio-economic and spatial. Current achievements in biotechnology make it possible to use them not only as a means of agricultural production but also in the production of food products.
Can algae combat global warming? Can it help reduce carbon footprints? Is it sustainable? Can it help reduce air pollution? Can it combat the problem of the greenhouse effect? Is it the next generation fuel? With microalgae in agriculture, there is a whole new world of sustainable opportunities waiting for humankind. The golden chance you seek is here.
In short, Algae may actually be able to SAVE the planet.
References
- Role of Microalgal Biotechnology in Environmental Sustainability-A Mini Review
2. The Importance and Prospects of the Use of Algae in Agribusiness
3. The Perspective of Large-Scale Production of Algae Biodiesel
