A New Wave Of Algae Is Perking Up The Vertical Farming Industry - CleanTechnica

The article discusses the emerging role of microalgae, particularly Spirulina, in revolutionizing vertical farming and addressing critical global challenges related to land use, biodiversity loss, and food scarcity. Spirulina, a nutrient-rich blue-green algae, can be cultivated indoors in bioreactors, making it suitable for vertical farming and reuse of existing infrastructure. Researchers at the University of Arizona are enhancing Spirulina’s nutritional profile and developing affordable DIY bioreactors to enable local production, aiming to reduce costs and deploy Spirulina as a sustainable food source in regions facing famine and food insecurity. Despite its nutritional benefits—including providing all nine essential amino acids and vital fatty acids—Spirulina’s widespread adoption has been hindered by its strong, often unpleasant taste when consumed as powder. This taste barrier has limited its commercial use mainly to dietary supplements rather than mainstream food markets. However, Icelandic company VAXA Technologies is tackling this challenge by producing fresh Spirulina with a neutral taste directly from bioreactors, as demonstrated