MicroAlgae with Dr Sarah Obeid: The future of food security

The other day I had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Sarah Obeid, an agro-resources expert.

Dr. Obeid is also a patent holder and one of the most prominent specialists in microalgae in Lebanon and the region.

Naturally, the discussion focused around MicroAlgae and its future uses and benefits.

What are Microalgae?

Dr. Obeid explained that microalgae are organisms that we encounter on a daily basis. Microalgae is a green matter that is seen in oceans, seas, lakes, rivers etc. They can be spotted through a reflection of colors that are greenish. They are unicellular biomasses that can live in freshwater, sea water and even in wasted water.

Microalgae are unicellular aquatic organisms that vary from 10 to 100 microns. They most often multiply non-sexually. There are between 200,000 and 1,000,000 species of which 30,000 are known and studied today. Microalgae are photosynthetic organisms that use sunlight as a source of energy to fix carbon dioxide, they also multiply by cell division, therefore having a very rapid growth rate. Simply put, they are the fastest growing organisms in the world! People often mistake them for pollutants, even though it is not the case. I asked Dr. Obeid if she was referring to the ones that can be spotted on the surface of water, to which Dr. Obeid said yes. Although the term “microalgae” is known, its importance is either overlooked, or unbeknownst to people.

Dr. Obeid underlined the difference between normal algae and microalgae: microalgae are unicellular organisms (or single cells) that have the ability to multiply twice per day.

She adds that according to scientists they were also one of the first organisms to ever exist on planet Earth, and since they produce huge quantities of oxygen, they are capable of absorbing gigatons of carbon dioxide. Dr. Obeid also believes that this last point is extremely important due to the global environmental landscape.

Microalgae Growth Conditions

One of the advantages of microalgae (which are no more than a few micrometers in size) is the ability to grow in a variety of places. All you need is light, carbon dioxide, and any kind of water. It grows in brackish water, wastewater, fresh water and even sea water. Microalgae are also able to grow and reproduce in extreme living conditions such as dry deserts or even in the coldest regions on Earth such as Antarctica.

Dr. Obeid mentioned the possibility of transporting microalgae to Mars and beginning the process of terraforming the planet in order to make it habitable.

As far as energy is concerned, Dr. Obeid affirms that microalgae are a huge source of it. She believes that biofuels produced from microalgae can be considered as a renewable and sustainable energy source which has the potential to be a suitable alternative to fossil fuels.

In terms of the biofuels’ efficiency, microalgae are one of the fastest growing organisms in the world. As an example, “if 1 gram of microalgae is planted on day 1, there will be 8.8 BILLION grams of microalgae by day 32.”

Microalgae Commercial Applications

1. As a Source of Biofuels

Algae are organisms that convert sunlight into energy stored in their body in the form of oils. Extracting oils from algae gives the possibility to convert them into multiple types of fuel.

The algae is distinguished by its rapid reproduction. The single algae cell is divided once a day into two cells, meaning that the amount of algae doubles every day.

According to a report from the Colorado Center for Agricultural Studies, one acre (about 0.4 hectares) of corn can produce 57 liters of oil, and 182 liters if planted with soybeans, 391 liters with sunflower, 2,413 liters with palm, and 7,030 liters with microalgae.

The United States Department of Energy estimates that the entire U.S. consumption of oil can be produced from an area of 15,000 square kilometers of microalgae farms. This figure constitutes about 0.42% of the total landmass of the United States. In the U.S. alone, many institutions have been established to conduct research on algae fuel. Other major oil companies also took the initiative to support this research. Microsoft Founder and Billionaire Bill Gates provided support for a company called Sapphire Energy. Shell, for example, established a company called Cellana for this purpose as well. The aviation industry has also shown interest in algal fuel, as it has not yet benefited from biofuels extracted from corn and sugar cane because it freezes at high altitudes.

2. As a Source of Food and Feed

The benefits of these microalgae are not limited to the production of biofuels to supply cars with it. They constitute the source of products that benefit the food industry for both humans or animals. Simply put, they constitute a food system in and of themselves.

The world produces these algae a few thousand tons annually, being a source rich in fibers, enzymes, proteins and carbohydrates. Microalgae have become a major source of food ingredients, especially across Asian countries such as South Korea and China. Biomass from microalgae is marketed in liquid, capsule and tablet form, which is used as a nutritional supplement.

Spirulina is the leading product that contributes to revenue in the global microalgae market. Spirulina is widely marketed and used as a nutritional supplement. It also seeks massive adoption as feed additives for animals. Today, Spirulina is gaining global popularity as one of the superfood supplements. It is an excellent source of proteins, vitamins and dyes. It is estimated that global sales revenue from Spirulina will reach approximately one hundred million of US Dollar by the end of 2026

3. Microalgae Uses in Agriculture

Microalgae play an important role in agriculture as they are used as bio-fertilizers and soil conditioners. The use of microscopic algae rich in nitrogen, phosphorus and minerals leads to a reduction in the use of chemical fertilizers. Consequently, it reduces the dangerous sediments in the soil and increases the quality of the flowing water to rivers and oceans. Many microalgae components protect against fungal diseases and symptoms of frost. They also can be used for fertilization, spraying or irrigation.

4. Microalgae Uses in Pharmaceutical Industries

Alginic acid and phycocyanin are used in the preparation of many drugs, as well as by using many microalgae components in the packaging of capsules, medicines, and antibiotics.

Cosmetics: Where microalgae are used in many skin and hair moisturizers. Other compounds are also used in microalgae, such as chlorophylls, carotenoids, phycocyanins, as natural colorants for cosmetics.

5. Microalgae as Edible COVID-19 Vaccine

Scientists are using the tools of genetic engineering to develop microalgae-based edible vaccines against the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

Conclusion:

Needless to say it was one of the most interesting interviews I’ve done. I’m super excited about the further advancement of psychology. Dr. Obeid is launching algaeroot.com to help educate people about the future of Microalgae.

You can watch the interview here.