Algae are a promising source of food, medicine, biofuels and more. Here are ten of the top reasons why (plus two bonus):
- ALGAE IS WIDELY USEFUL
Different varieties of algae are used to produce a wide variety of common products such as cosmetics, fertilizers, lubricants, green plastics, chemical feedstocks, biofuels, etc. - ALGAE GROW FAST
Under ideal conditions, algae can double in size every few hours and can be harvested daily. This means algae have the potential to produce biofuel and biomass at a volume many times greater than the most productive crops. - ALGAE CAN PRODUCE HUGE AMOUNTS OF BIOFUELS
Algae store the energy they produce through photosynthesis very efficiently in the form of oils and carbohydrates. Combined with their high productivity, this means algae can produce from 2,000 to as many as 5,000 gallons of biofuels per acre per year. - MICROALGAL BIOMASS HAS MANY USES
Even after oils are extracted for biofuels, for example, the remaining biomass can be used to produce high-value animal feeds, dietary supplements, and can even be used as fuel in its own right. - ALGAE CONSUME CO2
Algae absorbs CO2 and releases oxygen as it grows. This means that not only do algae provide abundant oxygen for virtually all life on the planet, but they can be used to clean emissions from energy sources that release CO2, like nuclear power plants, ethanol facilities, etc. Even better, algae’s growth and absorption potential increases along with available CO2. - ALGAE AIDS WASTEWATER TREATMENT
Nutrient-rich municipal sewage, stormwater, and some industrial effluents present some significant problems in treatment, but algae thrive in these waters, quickly removing the troublesome nutrients, all while producing biomass that can be used for biofuels. - SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS FROM ALGAE
Algae are used to produce a new generation of plastics that are bio-friendly, biodegradable, and sustainable. All that’s required to produce algae is sunlight and wastewater, which is a very low bar to cross. - ALGAE DON’T COMPETE WITH AGRICULTURE
Algae is able to grow using resources such as land and water that traditional crops can’t tolerate, including brackish water and wastewater. Production facilities can be built on any type of land, making it easy for farmers to farm algae in areas where traditional crops would not do well. This means that the expansion of algaculture does not limit access to land and resources used for traditional crops. - ALGAE AS A FERTILIZER
Since Algae is a living organism, it breaks down quickly to release abundant nitrogen and other molecules which are critical for healthy, productive crops. - ALGAE FOR NUTRITION
Algae has a complete amino acid profile, meaning it is a complete protein. While most plant-based foods lack one or more amino acids, algae, quinoa and soy are all complete sources. - ALGAE AS VEGETABLE OIL
Olive, safflower, peanut and even corn oil are most widely used, but algae can also be used to create vegetable oils. In fact, when grown and harvested properly, algae may be even more productive than traditional sources. - ALGAE FOR ANIMAL FEED
Algae has a naturally high protein content and a wide range of micronutrients. These qualities make it an ideal supplement and even feed for livestock.
