Algae Biomass Production for the Bioeconomy

(EU Science Hub) The latest brief prepared by the JRC for the European Commission’s Knowledge Centre for Bioeconomy (KCB) informs about algae biomass production in the EU and globally, and maps algae production units in Europe.

It reports increasing production levels and opportunities for development to meet growing demand in Europe and worldwide, and highlights the need for sustainable management of the sector in the face of multiple stressors and species decline.

When people think of algae, they typically picture kelp washing up on the beach or a lake discoloured due to an algal bloom.

The term ‘algae’ actually describes a diverse group (of more than 72,500 species) of aquatic photosynthetic organisms. The larger, pluricellular, types of algae are called macroalgae. These can be several millimetres to 70 m in length, and make up 20% of all algae species. The remaining 80% is made up of microalgae (unicellular algae).

As well as providing habitats and food for many food-web species, algae also contribute to carbon sequestration, nutrient recycling and coastal protection.

They are currently used primarily by the food and chemical industries, with new applications emerging in the areas of food and feed, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, biofuels, biomaterials and bioremediation services.

Macroalgae are harvested from wild stocks or produced in aquaculture systems, while microalgae are cultivated in open (e.g. raceway ponds) or closed (photobioreactors and fermenters) systems.