Microalgae Have Great Potential as Fish Feed Ingredient
A project being conducted by National Food Institute and Technical University of Denmark has shown that microalgae could be a suitable alternative to fishmeal – an important ingredient in fish feed.
Traditionally used fish meal is made from industrial fish such as sprat and sand eel that are unfit for human consumption. With increase in demand for fish feed in the growing aquaculture industry, this traditional practice seems to become both environmentally and economically unsustainable.
Hence researchers screened different species of algae and identified two species rich in protein, antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids.
The two species identified as Nannochloropsis salina and Chlorella pyrenoidosa contain high content of protein, omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants and suitable for growth in Danish conditions. Researchers have also developed suitable cultivation, harvesting and drying technologies for the growth of algae.
A new drying process developed by them is environmentally friendly and uses 30% less energy than spray drying. Here microalgae are dried in a stream of air in a specially designed drying chamber. The process is also gentler on pigments and omega-3 fatty acids in the biomass than spray drying.
