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Review
. 2015 Mar;123(3):305-15.
doi: 10.1007/s11120-014-9985-8. Epub 2014 Mar 6.

The place of algae in agriculture: policies for algal biomass production

Emily M Trentacoste  1 , Alice M Martinez, Tim Zenk
Affiliations
Review

The place of algae in agriculture: policies for algal biomass production

Emily M Trentacoste et al. Photosynth Res. 2015 Mar.

Abstract

Algae have been used for food and nutraceuticals for thousands of years, and the large-scale cultivation of algae, or algaculture, has existed for over half a century. More recently algae have been identified and developed as renewable fuel sources, and the cultivation of algal biomass for various products is transitioning to commercial-scale systems. It is crucial during this period that institutional frameworks (i.e., policies) support and promote development and commercialization and anticipate and stimulate the evolution of the algal biomass industry as a source of renewable fuels, high value protein and carbohydrates and low-cost drugs. Large-scale cultivation of algae merges the fundamental aspects of traditional agricultural farming and aquaculture. Despite this overlap, algaculture has not yet been afforded a position within agriculture or the benefits associated with it. Various federal and state agricultural support and assistance programs are currently appropriated for crops, but their extension to algal biomass is uncertain. These programs are essential for nascent industries to encourage investment, build infrastructure, disseminate technical experience and information, and create markets. This review describes the potential agricultural policies and programs that could support algal biomass cultivation, and the barriers to the expansion of these programs to algae.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Algaculture in the U.S. Algaculture can take place in closed photobioreactors, like those of Algenol in Florida (a) and Solix Biosystems in Colorado (b), or in open ponds like those of Sapphire Energy, Inc. in New Mexico (c). Like agriculture, algae cultivation requires growth as well as harvesting infrastructure, such as that of Sapphire Energy Inc. (d)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Algae projects in the U.S. Algal biomass projects exist in almost every state in the U.S. Blue pins denote a research institution, green denote a private project or company
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Federal agency jurisdiction over algae versus terrestrial crops. Four different federal departments hold jurisdiction over various aspects of algae cultivation, research, and products. EERE energy efficiency & renewable energy, NIFA National Institute of Food & Agriculture, ARS Agricultural Research Service, APHIS Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service, TSCA toxic substance control act
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
The global algal biomass industry. Locations of algal biomass projects, production, and companies around the world
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Agricultural Act of 2014, Pub. L. no. 113-79, 128 Stat. 649 (2014)
    1. Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, Pub. L. no. 75-430, 52 Stat. 31 (1938)
    1. Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) (2013) Commodity Areas. USDA Agricultural Marketing Service. http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0. Accessed 7 April 2013
    1. Agriculture & Food Act of 1981, Pub L. no. 97-98, 95 Stat. 1213 (1981)
    1. Andersen RA. The microalgal cell. In: Richmond A, Hu Q, editors. Handbook of microalgal culture: applied phycology and biotechnology. 2. Oxford: Wiley; 2013. pp. 1–20.

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