Did you know?

- Half of all the world's oxygen is made by aquatic plants in the ocean, called phytoplankton. [1]
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   - Oceans store 82% of the world's carbon? That's 38,400 gigatons! [2]

- Phytoplankton are the bottom level of aqautic ecosystems. Whether directly or indirectly, they sustain all the fish in the ocean! [3]

- Phytoplankton produce omega-3 fatty acids. When phytoplankton are eaten by fish, they give fish tissues healthy omega-3 fatty acids. [4]

Microalgae are one kind of phytoplankton

At Demeter Biosciences, we appreciate the power of phytoplankton. We have deeply understood one kind of phytoplankton, a microalgae. 

Microalgal cells under a microscope

Large microalgal cultures in bags

The power of microalgae: Photosynthesis

Microalgae turn carbon dioxide in the air into two things: 1) oxygen and 2) sugars and fats. This is photosynthesis. 

But how does this work in microalgae?

Microalgae have an amazing structure called the "pyrenoid." The pyrenoid's job is to concentrate carbon dioxide in one cellular compartment with the protein RuBisCO. Land plants (like corn, soybeans, and rice) do not have a pyrenoid and, in these plants, RuBisCO is much less efficient at fixing carbon dioxide into useful sugars and fats. Microalgae are amazing carbon-fixing factories!

Microalgal Nutrition

Microalgae make their own sugars and fats. So what nutrients do they need? 

Microalgae require three major nutrients that other plants require: 1) nitrogen, 2) phosphorous, and 3) potassium. Depending on the type of microalgae and water, other nutrients are sometimes required like calcium, vitamin A, vitamin B12, magnesium, and other trace metals. 

What can we do with microalgae?

1) Microalgae make fats, which can be turned into fuel. (Microalgae produce biofuel)
2) Microalgae make protein, which can be used as human and animal food. (Microalgal protein for food security)
3) Microalgae can synthesize feed fish, which can alleviate over-fishing in the ocean. (Microalgae as fish feed)
4) Microalgae can pull carbon dioxide out of the air and turn it into oxygen. (Microalgae consume carbon and emit oxygen) This is useful for....
       a) Space travel
       b) Urban air pollution
       c) Mitigation of carbon dioxide emissions at power plants using fossil fuels.
       d) Slowing global warming​
5) Microalgae can use excess nitrogen and phosphorous created at water treatment plants and animal farming operations. (Microalgae mitigate pollution from animal wastes)

1.  https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/06/source-of-half-earth-s-oxygen-gets-little-credit/
2. Falkowski, P.; Scholes, R. J.; Boyle, E.; Canadell, J.; Canfield, D.; Elser, J.; Gruber, N.; Hibbard, K.; Högberg, P. (2000-10-13). "The Global Carbon Cycle: A Test of Our Knowledge of Earth as a System." Science. 290 (5490): 291-296
3. https://earthdata.nasa.gov/user-resources/sensing-our-planet/boom-or-bust-the-bond-between-fish-and-phytoplankton​
4. Kang, Jing X. 2011. Omega-3: A link between global climate change and human health. Biotechnology Advances. 29​(4): 388-390.