Microalgae A New High-Value “Crop”

Microalgae A New High-Value “Crop” CROPS New Crops William Padilla-Brown believes algae often receives a bad rap from the public because toxic blooms in nature are perceived as normal He explains many of these unhealthy situations are caused by mistreatment of water sources Taking it a step further he founded MycoSymbiotics a permaculture research and production business that grows and markets microalgae for human consumption as a health supplement or whole food additive For his own production unit of microalgae he starts by acquiring a small vial or bottle containing living cells found in nature or online from a culture bank He recommends new growers start with spirulina algae keeping some of the culture separate indoors in case of issues and a need to start over with outdoor growth Producers can begin growing microalgae in glass bottles eventually expanding to small backyard pools The water needs to be agitated and nitrogen and phosphorus salts added “Normally I do small scale a couple of pounds of fresh dry material a week ” Padilla-Brown says “Microalgae is nutrient-dense so you don’t need a lot The World Health Organization shows that 1 to 3 grams of dried spirulina helps maintain nutritional fitness and helps reverse malnutrition Many algae also contain central fatty acids and amino acids ” Padilla-Brown has an online e-book and YouTube videos showing how to set up a small-scale microalgae system using food-grade plastic liners sunlight and nutrient-rich water “Large amounts of algae can be grown in outdoor spaces like rooftops driveways or sidewalks ” he says “It doesn’t require fertile land and once people get a feel for growing it around the house or in small pools the yields at greenhouse scale become large enough to support livelihoods ” Fresh spirulina algae have about a 5-day shelf life and are excellent for use in restaurant meals Dehydrated powders capsules and freeze-dried portions last for years Padilla-Brown says fresh algae sells for about $100 a pound or $25 for 4 oz at markets He estimates the cost of a small-scale farm start-up at around $2 500 Contact: FARM SHOW Followup priyanka@mycosymbiotics com; www mycosymbiotics com

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