Microalgae as Key to a Land-free Circular On-farm Feed Production System

Abstract

Currently, all feed and food come from plant- or animal-based production systems. The potential of the natural biodiversity of microorganisms for the highly efficient production of nutrients has yet to be leveraged. We present an overarching concept that ranges from the development of a national collection of regional microalgae to the decentralised production of nutrient-rich biomass for animal feed production. The focus is on the substitution of classic plant-based feed to reduce competition for arable land, to increase the nutritive value of animal-based food, and to reduce methane emissions from ruminants. The photoautotrophic and mixotrophic cultivation of microalgae are well aligned with the goals of CO₂ fixation and the later contribution to the valorisation of side streams from the food industry. We also present the initial results on strain adaptation to diverse cultivation conditions.