Cited by 55Algal biology and biofuel productionFood Industry and Aquatic BiologyAquaculture Nutrition and Growth

Microalgae as future food: rich nutrients, safety, production costs and environmental effects

Gao, Le, Qin, Yujia, Zhou, Xu, Jin, Wenbiao, He, Zhongqi, Li, Xuan, Wang, Qilin·2024·Science of The Total Environment

Abstract

The improvement of food security and nutrition has attracted wide attention, and microalgae as the most promising food source are being further explored. This paper comprehensively introduces basic and functional nutrients rich in microalgae by elaborated tables incorporating a wide variety of studies and summarizes factors influencing their accumulation effects. Subsequently, multiple comparisons of nutrients were conducted, indicating that microalgae have a high protein content. Moreover, controllable production costs and environmental friendliness prompt microalgae into the list that contains more promising and reliable future food. However, microalgae and -based foods approved and sold are limited strictly, showing that safety is a key factor affecting dietary consideration. Notably, sensory profiles and ingredient clarity play an important role in improving the acceptance of microalgae-based foods. Finally, based on the bottleneck in the microalgae food industry, suggestions for its future development were discussed.

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Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172167

Cites

202 of 202 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • From an economic perspective, the energy required by conventional microalgae harvesting methods, such as centrifugation, flocculation, flotation, and filtration, as well as the initial investment in a bioreactor, is extremely costly.

    “In particular, from an economic perspective, the energy required by conventional microalgae harvesting methods, such as centrifugation, flocculation, flotation, and filtration, as well as the initial investment in a bioreactor, is extremely costly.”

    From Microalgae biotechnology and its role in sustainable and healthy food design (2025) · cites this paper as Gao et al., 2024

  • The lack of more economical and efficient technologies prevents microalgae-based products from competing with conventional ingredients of plant and animal origin, limiting their insertion into other niches.

    “The lack of more economical and efficient technologies prevents microalgae-based products from competing with conventional ingredients of plant and animal origin, limiting their insertion into other niches (Vázquez-Romero et al., 2022; Gao et al., 2024; Zhu et al., 2024).”

    From Microalgae biotechnology and its role in sustainable and healthy food design (2025) · cites this paper as Gao et al., 2024

  • Gao et al. (2024) found that prediction-based dilution increased biomass productivity by 47% compared to batch cultivation and by 20% compared to fixed-rate dilution, thereby increasing resource utilization efficiency and reducing the energy intensity of harvesting operations.

    “Gao et al. (2024) found that prediction-based dilution increased biomass productivity by 47% compared to batch cultivation and by 20% compared to fixed-rate dilution, thereby increasing resource utilization efficiency and reducing the energy intensity of harvesting operations.”

    From Microalgae biotechnology and its role in sustainable and healthy food design (2025) · cites this paper as Gao et al., 2024

  • Operational optimization tools that integrate weather forecasts into daily cultivation decisions have proven effective in reducing costs and increasing productivity.

    “Additionally, operational optimization tools that integrate weather forecasts into daily cultivation decisions have proven effective in reducing costs and increasing productivity.”

    From Microalgae biotechnology and its role in sustainable and healthy food design (2025) · cites this paper as Gao et al., 2024

  • Spirulina and Chlorella offer up to 70% protein by dry weight and a complete amino acid profile, alongside richness in essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidant compounds.

    “species like Spirulina and Chlorella offering up to 70% protein by dry weight and a complete amino acid profile, alongside their richness in essential fatty acids (notably omega-3 and omega-6 PUFAs); a wide spectrum of vitamins (A, B complex, C, E, and K); minerals (e.g., iron, magnesium, and zinc); and antioxidant compounds such as carotenoids and phycobiliproteins [56,90,121,122,123].”

Cites

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2 of the 204 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. Freitas, 2019, Novel foods: a meal replacement shake and a high-calorie food supplemented with Spirulina biomass, Int. Food Res. J., 26, 59
  2. Malbos, 2021, Vitamin A, Actual. Pharm., 60, 23
  3. Omar Faruque, 2020, Influence of nitrogen to phosphorus ratio and CO2 concentration on lipids accumulation of Scenedesmus dimorphus for bioenergy production and CO2 biofixation, Chemistry, 15, 4307
  4. Salomonsson, 1984, Chemical characterization of some Swedish cereal whole meal and bran fractions, Swed. J. Agric. Res., 14, 111

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Authors
Gao, L., Qin, Y., Zhou, X., Jin, W., He, Z., Li, X., & Wang, Q.
Affiliations
  • The University of Queensland (AU)
  • Harbin Institute of Technology (CN)
  • University of Technology Sydney (AU)
Corresponding author
Zhou, Xu
Venue
Science of The Total Environment
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2024-06
Volume
927
Pages
172167
ISSN
0048-9697 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4393942484
Cited by
55
References
204
Citations by year
2026: 26 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 6
FWCI
1.12
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • The Science of The Total Environment (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • OPUS - Open Publications of UTS Scholars (University of Technology Sydney) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Algal biology and biofuel production
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Food Industry and Aquatic Biology
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Aquatic Science › Aquaculture Nutrition and Growth
Keywords
microalgae, nutrient content, protein content, nutrient accumulation, food safety, production costs, environmental impact, sensory acceptability, food industry development, food security
MeSH terms
Nutrients, Nutritive Value, Microalgae, Food Safety

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