Microalgal biotechnologies: Recent developments and prospects for developing countries
1999
Sasson, Abert (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Paris (France))
It is widely recognized that microalgae can be used as feed for animals and can supply a high-protein supplement for human food. Their nutritional value has been substantiated by a large number of studies and compares well with conventional food products. In addition, there are many biochemicals (beta-carotene from Dunaliella spp. on commercial scale, astaxanthin from Haematococcus pluvialis, sulfonated carrageenan-like polysaccharides and arachidonic acid from Porphyridium, phycocyanin and gammalinolenic acid from Spirulina) and pharmaceuticals which can be extracted from microalgae to be used in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and chemical industries. The various biotechnological improvements that are now in progress will result in a marked increase in productivity of microalgal cultures and a decrease in production costs. It is also likely that the increased demand for special feedstuffs for fish and aquatic organisms, poultry, swine and cattle will contribute to a significant decrease in these production costs. This will also give a great impetus to mass microalgal cultures in saline, highly saline and brackish waters which are unsuitable for the irrigation of most crop species and which are generally abundant in arid and semi-arid regions. In this respect, the achievements in microalgal biotechnologies can offer good prospects for developing countries, which enjoy appropriate environmental conditions and which are increasingly adopting the relevant technologies.
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