Algae-change in our world
Nowadays, there are a lot of novelties and innovations, but vast majority of people is not informed or
does not know about them. I think that is the case with algae, because I have not known that they are so
important and that they could be useful for some general, but also for some specific things. They have a
wide range of applicability in many purposes. Firstly, I will give most common definition of algae and
their classification.
Algae are organisms commonly found in aquatic environments. There are two types: macroalgae and
microalgae. Macroalgae are most commonly found in coastal areas, ponds and in the ocean. They are
commonly known as seaweed and are classified into green, brown, and red seaweed based on their
pigmentation. Macroalgae is a prominent feature of tropical and subtropical reefs, often covering large
areas and providing habitat for fish and invertebrates. On the other hand, micro algae are unicellular
micro-organisms that grow as suspensions in water. Microalgae are extremely diverse group of
eukaryotic organisms that thrive in a wide range of habitats including fresh and salt water, blackish,
marine and soil environments. Microalgae are classified in groups based on different characteristics,
such as with huge morphological variations, as well as projections. The most common sources of
microalgae are bogs, marshes, and swamps. Secondly, let me explain more about theirs growth,
functions, as well as processes and purposes related to them. Of course, in order for algae to grow, they
all require sunlight, water, nutrients, and carbon dioxide. Through the process of photosynthesis, algae
convert the carbon dioxide into glucose. The glucose is then broken down into fatty acids, which under
normal conditions, are used to produce membranes for new algal cells. If, however, the algae are
starved of nutrients, the fatty acids produce fat molecules (oil). Due to the fact that carbon dioxide is the
only source of carbon for algae, having an adequate supply is essential if they are to be used for
commercial purposes. What is so great about algae? It grows 10 times more rapidly than terrestrial
plants, and less than a tenth of the land is needed to produce an equivalent amount of biomass.
Moreover, it grows on non-productive and non-arable land, so it does not compete with other crops for
land. Because it does not require fresh water, it can be fertilized more efficiently than land crops, and
you can avoid the intensive water usage, wasteful fertilizer runoff, and downstream eutrophication
which is associated with modern agriculture. Algae could be major new food source. Furthermore what
is more important is that it could be new major industry. Algae could be the answer to all of those
challenges providing a valuable source of carbon-neutral fuels, aquafeeds for the agriculture and
aquaculture industries, and high-protein food products for direct human consumption. For instance if
we wanted to produce all of the fuels that the world currently needs, we would not need so much space
for growing algae. Moreover we could re-produce a large amount of protein and maybe find a solution
to feed people all around the world. Especially it would be good deed to help parts of the world where is
the rate of hunger high. As you can see, with the development of algae, we can gain several
environmental advantages at the same time.Let’s take a look at this from a carbon neutral perspective.
That means not introducing any new Co2 into the atmosphere. Nowadays, times have changed, and
energy markets continue to evolve, therefore most of the light vehicle fleet will be electrified by 2030 to
2050, and there won't be as much of a need for liquid fuels. On the other hand, there will still be a need
for jet aviation and shipping in the future, and of course, the most important, there will always be a
need for food. In order to accomplish all goals and before listed things we need algae farms. Algae
farming is just an extension of what we can do already with conventional agriculture. We can easily say
that it is not a replacement of other crops, but a highly nutritious addition to what we are already doing.
For instance, there is a company ’’Qualitas Health’’ that grows and operates algae farms for its
consumer-facing brand which sells algae-based supplements. This company has been making algaebased supplements like Omega-3 supplements since 2017. The company produces a genus of algae,
grown for its potential as a source of food, feed, and fuel. To make it clear, most consumers get their
Omega-3 from fish-based supplements, but algae farming opens up new nutritional sustainable food
sources and satisfies increased demand for plant-based protein and nutrient-rich food products, instead
of relying on over-fished marine ecosystems. As consumers continue to demand more sustainable and
nutritious options, algae is ready to play a larger role in everyday health. Within the upcoming years we
are going to find algae in many of our everyday products, turning algae into a multi-billion dollar
industry.
After taking all things into consideration, I believe that algae are some of the most productive organisms
on Earth, as well as they can answer to almost all of the major challenges that the world faces. I will just
indicate the pertinence of algae once more and conclude this research with Mariliis Holm’s sentence: ‘’
If I had one silver bullet for the future of sustainable food, it would be green and loaded with algae.’’