Human Nutrition & Health Products
Food products that are currently produced from algae include food ingredients, such as essential omega-3 fatty acids used in infant formula, carbohydrates and emulsifiers produced from seaweeds, and food supplements. Spirulina, produced in large ponds in California and Hawaii, is a traditional food source in several places around the world, including in Mexico and Africa.
Several companies have begun focusing on algae as a source for omega-3 fatty acids, which play a crucial role in brain function as well as growth and development, and may reduce the risk of heart disease along with a host of other health benefits. Because the human body is unable to manufacture omega-3s, people have traditionally obtained it by eating foods such as salmon, tuna, halibut and shrimp.
However, while more and more people become concerned about the sustainability of some seafood, and others have simply looked for a non-soy or non-seafood source of these important supplements, microalgae have emerged as an exciting alternative. There are currently a number of companies in the United States and Australia developing commercial-scale facilities for the production of omega-3 oils from algae, along with other products. It’s clear that in the coming years, algae will account for a larger and larger supply of the world’s omega-3s.
Dr. Ike Levine explains importance of other products from algae
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