Microalgae: A Renewable Resource for Food and Fuels and More

Abstract

Microalgae are a large and diverse group of microscopic aquatic plants that are responsible for over half of the global primary productivity. They constitute a major food source for organisms at the base of the marine and other aquatic food webs and are important components of many ecosystems. Cultivation of microalgae offers a renewable resource for foods, fuels, aquaculture feeds, and other bioproducts and bioapplications. Bioproducts include a feedstock for biofuels and high-value lipids such as long-chain omega-3 oils, carotenoid pigments, and squalene, as well as other non-lipid materials, including exopolysaccharides. Successful commercial cultivation is dependent on the knowledge of the microalgal strain biology, matching the growth conditions according to the particular geographic sites and culturing and processing methods for the bioproducts of interest. Marine microalgae, as well as those from brackish and hypersaline environments, are grown in seawater at various salinities. Both autotrophic and heterotrophic cultivations are important, offering options in strain biology, chemistry, and production methods. Detailed fatty acid profiles demonstrate characterization of the microalgae into different chemotaxonomic groups, giving useful tools for identifying candidates with favorable bioproduct qualities for further optimization, for example, fast growth, high oil content, and suitable lipid composition. This chapter provides a perspective on the cultivation and qualities of microalgae for their renewable bioproduct and bioapplication potential, which offers great future potential in renewable marine resources. Blue Biotechnology: Production and Use of Marine Molecules, First Edition. Edited by Stéphane La Barre and Stephen S. Bates. © 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA. Published 2018 by Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA. CO PY RI GH TE D M AT ER IA L 4 1 Microalgae: A Renewable Resource for Food and Fuels and More