"ALGAE THE GREAT"-FOOD, FUEL AND NUTRACEUTICALS IN THE PIPE LINE!

Any discussion about Omega-3 fatty acids is not complete unless Algae is brought into the picture, for it is the food growing abundantly in the ocean that is eaten by the fish which is the best known source of DHA and EPA, two most widely recognized essential fatty acids needed for healthy living. One of the advantages of Algae being used for direct extraction of Omega-3 acids is that it is free from mercury contamination when produced under controlled conditions. Algae is also a rich source of protein containing branched chain amino acids. In the quest for bio-fuels to substitute the fossil fuels, Algae is considered as a promising future source though price-wise it may not be cost effective at to day's fuel prices.

Algae belong to a large and diverse group of simple auto-tropic microorganisms, some unicellular and others multicellular in nature. In their most complex existence, sea weeds represent the largest form used in the manufacture of functional food ingredients with viscosity modifying properties. Algae is a eukarytic organism with a nucleus enclosed within a membrane and chloroplasts bound in one or more membranes which confers on Algae the photosynthetic capability. All algae have the photosynthetic machinery derived from Cyanobacterium and produce oxygen as a by-product of its growth. There are 6000-7000 species of Algae and their origin dates back to 2 billion years, being the predecessors of the green plants as we see to day. Algae is estimated to provide 90%of oxygen in the planet while plants account for the balance. Algae is increasingly being touted as the most potential CO2 capture module of future, the biomass being considered as a source of high quality proteins, lipids for food purpose as well bio-fuels, nutraceuticals, animal feeds and fertilizers. A startling discovery, confirmed through clinical trials, credits algae with the ability to reduce or prevent side effects of chemotherapy treatment for cancer.

Nanno chloropsis, Chlorella vulgaris and Spirulina sp are being tried for large scale production under controlled conditions.Botryococcus braunii is the most promising organism favored for bio-fuels as 86% of their dry cell mass is long chain hydrocarbons. In place of bio-fuels from food sources, Algae based bio-fuels make much more sense because of higher productivity. The annual yield per hectare can be as high as 100000 liters of bio-fuel compared to only 1413 liters(L) from Castor, 952 L from Sunflower, 779 L from Safflower, 5950 L from Palm, 446 L from Soy or 2689 L from Coconut. There are a number of global projects trying to mass produce Algae to make it a viable proposition. Large Photobioreactors are being designed using artificial light with specific wave length spectrum ideal for optimal growth. In a typical such reactor of capacity 200 L, yield of 140 g has been reported and still it is a long way before efficient large scale reactors become operational. Hybrid systems combining open pond cultivation and photoreactor modules are also being developed, ultimate aim being higher productivity and lower production cost. Algae species rich in oil include Scenedesmus dimorphis (16-40% lipids), Spirogyra sp (33-64% lipids), and Prymnesium parvum (22-38% lipids). Oil yield can be maximized by manipulating the growing conditions, especially the medium composition.

Single Cell Proteins (SCP) was once a prime candidate for meeting the world wide protein malnutrition during nineteen fifties and sixties and Algae fitted the bill admirably well. Species like Scenedesmus obliquus (50-56% protein), Chlorella vulgaris (51-58% protein, Spirulina platinsis (46-63% protein) and Euglina gracilis (39-61% protein) are useful as protein sources. However, high nucleic acid content in some species, as high as 6%, poses problems for use of Algae for edible purpose unless properly processed. Some of the nutraceutical components from Algae include Phycocyanins for defense against oxy radicals, beta carotene for antioxidant defense, Zeaxanthi/Lutin for good eye health, Gamma Linolenic Acid as essential fatty acid and some like calcium spirulan, sulfolipids and glycolipids still being investigated for their health protection role. Algae like Nanno chloropsis and Chlorella vulgaris are priced at about $ 18000-36000 per ton in the market and a $ 27 billion sports nutrition industry makes use of these material for various formulations.

It is time that global efforts and intensified, as is happening in the sustainable energy area, for evolving universally accessible technologies in Algal cultivation for the benefit of people in poor as well as the rich countries of the world. Vast ocean spread, this planet is blessed with, must be utilized to produce algae under controlled conditions, similar to the off shore drilling projects with well designed infrastructure, working to exploit the ocean bed for fossil fuels. This tiny organism, if harnessed collectively, has the potential to dramatically change the face of the world for better, by providing an inexhaustible source of food, feed, fertilizer, fuel and health promoting chemicals in unlimited quantities, for centuries to come..

V.H.POTTY
http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/

BIO-FUELS: ARE THEY REALLY SUSTAINABLE?

Lot has been written about the promise of bio-fuels which are considered sustainable as compared to the non-renewable fossil fuels. Food technologists have profound interest in this area due to two reasons. First as a citizen there is grave concern regarding the deteriorating climatic changes attending relentless burning of fossil fuels and global warming that is changing the very face of this planet. Then comes the critical shortages experienced in the edible oil availability as there is a growing tendency, especially in many developed countries to divert edible oils for automobiles. In India almost 40% of vegetable oil requirements are met out of imports and any fluctuations in global prices of oils, especially Palm oil is bound to have serious repercussions on its economy.

Bio-fuel can be in solid, liquid or gaseous form derived from relatively recently dead biological materials and it can be produced from any carbon sources, most common being photosynthetic plants which fix solar light and atmospheric carbon dioxide to make carbohydrates in abundance. Two strategies which can help in bio-fuel production are: (a) conversion of carbohydrates and sugars into alcohol for use singly or in combination with fossil fuel and (b) use of plant oils which are triglycerides. According to the National Bio-fuel Policy of GOI (NBFP), announced on September 11, 2008 the current E5 fuel (5% ethanol) regime will move to E10 regime by 2012 and then to E20 regime by 2017. Bio-diesel fuel will be mostly from plants like Jatropa to be taken up in waste lands and marginal lands across the country through long term leasing arrangements. Minimum Support Price also is expected to be worked out to stimulate growing of these plants.

As the country is facing a sugar glut, sugar cane juice conversion to alcohol is likely to be encouraged so as to reduce the stock by 2 million tons. As a short measure alcohol import from Brazil is also on the horizon. Many of the sugar factories already have facilities to ferment molasses into ethanol and no extra investment will be required for augmenting the production. Probably sugar being a politically sensitive commodity, GOI is treading a cautious path as far as this route to fuel self sufficiency is concerned because of the apparent nexus between the sugar business and the political landscape that prevail in the country. Besides sugarcane is a water intensive crops precluding its cultivation on more lands. There are other carbon sources which can be converted into ethanol, the most abundant being cellulosic materials which have no food value for human beings. But they also have other uses like feeding the livestock and burning for generating heat for day to day life. Bagasse is already being used for co-generation in many sugar mills and as such it is not a material of preferred choice. Conversion of Corn or Tapioca into glucose through amylase/mineral acid technology does not lend itself to any massive operations because of their prevailing uses as food and industrial source of starch.

Use of plant oils, some of which also are consumed as a source of biological energy in human diets, is fraught with some grave consequences. India consumes about 15 million tons of plant oils for food and non-food purposes. Any diversion is bound to tell on the edible oil prices which will create further imbalances in availability of this crucial diet constituent. Thus oils from Oil Palm, Soybean, Sesame, Mustard etc rule themselves out on this account. Other sources such as jatropa, pongamia, algae etc may be of some promise but how far their supply line can be assured is a million dollar question. The NBFP document does mention about these non edible oil sources and offers some incentives for farmers to raise these crops in government lands, guaranteeing minimum support prices but there is no definite road map as to achieving any significant targets that will reduce our fossil fuel imports substantially. IT is time that GOI approaches this issue in a holistic way by revisiting out agricultural policy to integrate food and fuel needs of the nation on a long term basis instead of treating bio-fuels separately. Prima facie bio-fuels from non-edible sources of oil looks as most promising sustainable source of energy, not the gasohol project. Large scale cultivation of these plants will also help controlling CO2 build up to some extent.

With the crude oil imports crossing 120 million tons in 2007-08 and the domestic production stagnating at 32 million tons, there is a sense of urgency in finding a long term solution to the energy crunch that is facing the country. The market situation is such that 80% of the fossil fuel is processed into diesel which is used extensively for transportation and power generation. Under these circumstances will the NBFP, as being enunciated, really help to save the situation in the foreseeable future. Unlikely.

V.H.POTTY
http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/