Potential Industrial Applications and Commercialization of Microalgae in the Functional Food and Feed Industries: A Short Review

Abstract

Bioactive compounds, e.g., protein, polyunsaturated fatty acids, carotenoids, vitamins and minerals, found in commercial form of microalgal biomass (e.g., powder, flour, liquid, oil, tablet, or capsule forms) may play important roles in functional food (e.g., dairy products, desserts, pastas, oil-derivatives, or supplements) or feed (for cattle, poultry, shellfish, and fish) with favorable outcomes upon human health, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antiviral effects, as well as prevention of gastric ulcers, constipation, anemia, diabetes, and hypertension. However, scale up remains a major challenge before commercial competitiveness is attained. Notwithstanding the odds, a few companies have already overcome market constraints, and are successfully selling extracts of microalgae as colorant, or supplement for food and feed industries. Strong scientific evidence of probiotic roles of microalgae in humans is still lacking, while scarce studies have concluded on probiotic activity in marine animals upon ingestion. Limitations in culture harvesting and shelf life extension have indeed constrained commercial viability. There are, however, scattered pieces of evidence that microalgae play prebiotic roles, owing to their richness in oligosaccharides—hardly fermented by other members of the intestinal microbiota, or digested throughout the gastrointestinal tract of humans/animals for that matter. However, consistent applications exist only in the dairy industry and aquaculture. Despite the underlying potential in formulation of functional food/feed, extensive research and development efforts are still required before microalgae at large become a commercial reality in food and feed formulation.

Cultivation of Chlorella vulgaris in a Light-Receiving-Plate (LRP)-Enhanced Raceway Pond for Ammonium and Phosphorus Removal from Pretreated Pig Urine

“…The concentrations of the metal ions (Zn 2+ , Cu 2+ , Cd 2+ , K + , and Mg 2+ ) were measured using a C200 Multi-parameter Ion Specific Meter (Hanna Instruments, Italy) following the method reported by Cao et al [18]. The nutrient removal efficiency and removal rate during pig urine treatment in batch mode were calculated according to Equations (6) and 7:…”

“…The generated biomass can also be utilized for the production of a variety of high-value products such as food, bioenergy, pharmaceuticals and nutritional products [4,5]. Furthermore, some companies have used microalgae biomass in functional food and feed industry and obtained some economic benefits [6]. Furthermore, compared to the effluent from anaerobic digestion, the separated pig urine is more suitable as a medium to culture microalgae due to: (1) less contamination by heavy metals and microorganisms, (2) less content of organic acids (fulvic acid, humic acid, etc.…”

Health Functionality and Quality Control of Laver (Porphyra, Pyropia): Current Issues and Future Perspectives as an Edible Seaweed

“…Seaweeds have long been regarded as a rich source of health-promoting substances. However, relevant studies mainly focused on internationally produced and consumed seaweeds, including brown [43] and green algae [44], and on red algae other than laver [45]. This section reviews the available information on the health benefits of lavers, with particular reference to active substances unique to this group of edible seaweeds.…”

Arthrospira platensis as Natural Fermentation Booster for Milk and Soy Fermented Beverages

“…In several studies A. platensis has been employed in food formulations in order to obtain or enhance functional and technological properties of cheese [8], yogurt [9,10], soft drink beverages [11], bread, cookies and pasta [12][13][14].…”