A quick tour of algae

seaweed

ALGAE

A non-scientific word used for grouping together very different living organisms
which are
food

Plants

they perform photosynthesis
water

Aquatic

they need water at some point
They can be either
microscopic

Microalgae

Invisible to the naked eye
water

Seaweeds = Macroalgae

Visible
They play huge roles:

Environment

  • Renew more than 50% of atmospheric oxygen daily
  • Foundation of aquatic food chains
  • Serve as habitats and shelter for many other species

Economic

  • About 28 million tonnes of seaweeds commercially produced in the world in 2014 1
  • Total market worth US$ 1.8 billion in 2014 1
  • Used in making products for everyday life: toothpastes, cosmetics, ice cream, dairies, paints, diapers, printings, etc.

Prehistory/History

  • Algae shaped the atmosphere and the ozone layer on Earth
  • Significant role in the origin of rocks and fossil fuels
  • Used in the past for glass production industry, iodine extraction, gun powder, etc.

Uses, Research & Innovations

food

Food

  • Traditional food
  • New food
  • Food supplements
environment

Environment

  • Bioremediation, Phycoremediation
  • Nutrient bioextraction
  • CO2 capture
  • Sustainable management of natural stocks
fish

Aquaculture

  • Integrated Multi Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA)
industry

Industry

  • Biomaterials (paper, plastic)
  • Paints
  • Antifouling
  • Cosmetics
health

Health

  • Bioactive compounds
  • Antioxydant compounds
  • UV protection compounds
energy

Energy

  • Biofuels
  • Biorefinery

Explore algae further:

  • Meet the Algonauts who work on algae
  • Travel with Jacqueline Algane
  • Discover how algae play a role in the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations
    • Back
    1 The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA) is the flagship publication of the FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department. It is published every two years and provide a global view of capture fisheries and aquaculture. You can access the 2016 report through this link: SOFIA 2016, FAO↩

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