Microalgae – Tiny Creatures with Great Economic Potential

Microalgae do not need soil and produce more biomass than crops in the same period of time. The main applications of microalgae are currently food supplements, cosmetic products, animal feed and biofuels.

Microalgae grow quickly, absorb nutrients efficiently and can fix carbon dioxide. This makes them interesting for many applications, such as the sustainable production of food and feed, the reduction of environmental pollution and CO₂ sequestration to combat climate change. Researchers from Switzerland, Denmark and Belgium have compiled a review and identified 146 microalgae-based products from 66 manufacturers in Europe, while a further 49 companies offer microalgae production services. The most commonly cultivated microalgae species in Europe are spirulina (Limnospira spp.), Chlorella and Nannochloropsis.

Food supplements, cosmetics and animal feed

The preferred microalgae cultivation systems in Europe are photobioreactors, which are used by 48% of producers, followed by open pond systems (33%) and fermenters (16%). Spirulina accounts for the largest production volume, at 142 tonnes per year, followed by Chlorella, with 82 tonnes. Around 71% of microalgae products are used in food supplements, cosmetics, agriculture and animal feed. Smaller proportions of microalgae (but with a higher market value) are used in the pharmaceutical industry.

In Europe, microalgae production is mainly concentrated in France; however, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy and the Netherlands also produce significant amounts. Microalgae are mainly grown in open pond systems in Spain, while bioreactors are mainly used in France, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. A recent market analysis predicted a positive development of the microalgae markets in Europe (5.8% annual growth rate) and North America (6.6%). Asia, however, remains the market leader, with a predicted growth rate of 7.4%, particularly in the areas of animal feed and aquaculture.

Regulatory uncertainties as a brake

The European microalgae industry faces various technical and logistical challenges, such as the high costs of production and the high outlay necessary to process microalgae. In addition, regulatory uncertainties are curbing the innovative capacity of the algae industry, particularly with regard to genetic engineering and new techniques such as genome editing. Another factor restraining the microalgae sector is the lack of public funding and financial incentives for research and development.

New technologies could provide a boost

To overcome these challenges, new electrotechnologies in bioprocessing could help identify solutions to reduce energy consumption and optimise nutrient and water use. In addition, modern genome editing could be used to optimise microalgae strains so that they produce more of the desired biocomponents. This would significantly boost the algae industry’s growth.