Microalgae and cyanobacteria production for feed and food supplements

Abstract

Sustainable alternative sources of protein and lipids have become a priority due to asymptotic limitations of production of traditional crops under the burden of exponential population growth, climate change, and energy resource limits. Microalgae and cyanobacteria contain substances that have high biological value, such as polyunsaturated fatty acids, proteins, pigments, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, as well as carbohydrates. Moreover, they have higher productivity than traditional crops and can be grown in places where other crops cannot be grown, such as deserts or high-salinity environments. Microalgae in the past have been used in the diet of humans and animals but mainly as supplements. Biotechnological use of the entire biomass or protein/lipids of microalgae for feedstock in human and animal consumption was reviewed. It was found that microalgae have great potential to replace standard food crops for animal and human consumption, and ongoing biotechnological advances in cultivation techniques and process technology will likely place new microalgae biomass products in the world commercial stage in the near future.