ABSTRACT
Algae production often solves problems related to food security, such as land scarcity, climate change, inefficient and unsustainable fertilizer use and associated nutrient losses, and water pollution. Algae can be cultivated independently of arable land and, especially in the case of many microalgae, produce oil- and/or protein-rich biomass with spatial efficiency far exceeding that of terrestrial plants. However, algae and algae-derived products are almost exclusively produced for high-value, low-volume markets and are far from being able to compete with cheap commodities such as plant-based proteins or fossil fuels.
Algae, especially seaweeds, are an essential component of global aquaculture. In 2019, algae cultivation, measured by wet weight, contributed nearly 30% of the 120 million metric tons of global aquaculture production. Red and brown seaweeds were the second- and third-largest species groups in global aquaculture.
Macroalgae are harvested from wild stocks or produced in aquaculture systems, while microalgae are cultivated in open (e.g., raceway ponds) or closed systems (photobioreactors and fermenters).
