Algae are one of the most basic and essential forms of plant-like life with thousands of different species that range from microscopic single-celled microalgae to larger macro-algae.

Compared to terrestrial plants, microalgae are very efficient at converting light, water and carbon (CO2) into biomass through photosynthesis. Algae are the fastest growing plants on earth and can multiply up to 2-3 times a day by cell division (splitting).

Microalgae are differentiated from other plants because they generally do not have specialized structures (as roots, trunk, leaves and stems) that move nutrients through the organism.

In the current language, “algae” normally refers to seaweed, the so-called macro-algae. However, the new algae industry focuses mainly on single-celled algae or microalgae.

Algae are at the base of the aquatic food chain, their biomass is eaten from the tiniest shrimp to the great blue whales.

Even though algae are representing only 30% of total plant biomass, they may create as much as 50% of the earth’s oxygen.

The fossil oil production is based on fossilized microalgae that have accumulated at the bottom of the seas in the right conditions over millions of years.

Microalgae

• are single-celled algae with a size between 0.01 and 0.20 mm;
• are aquatic species, growing in fresh, brackish or salt waters;
• exist in hundreds of thousands shapes, colours and sizes.

Algae contain lipids (of which high levels of triglycerides and also essential fatty acids), proteins, carbohydrates and a lot of high value elements, including anti-oxidants, vitamins and trace elements.

Depending on the species, there is a large variation in the composition of algae.