Tue, 21 Jan 2025

Inside Iceland's futuristic farm growing algae for food

Next to a geothermal plant in Iceland a start-up is growing microalgae for food.
Icelandic company Vaxa Technologies has developed an innovative system that harnesses energy and resources from a geothermal power station to cultivate microalgae, also known as blue-green algae or spirulina. The process is carbon-negative, capturing CO2 and releasing oxygen through photosynthesis. The microalgae can be used as a nutrition-rich food source for people, as feed in fish and shrimp farming, or as a dietary supplement. The Vaxa facility is the only place where algae cultivation is integrated with a geothermal power station, which provides clean electricity, cold water, hot water, and pipes to capture CO2 emissions. This setup has a relatively low footprint in terms of land and water use. Scientists believe that microalgae have immense potential as a sustainable food source, particularly in regions with low-impact energy sources like Iceland. The crop is rich in protein, carbohydrates, omega-3s, fatty acids, and vitamin B12. However, there are still challenges to overcome, including the development of more palatable products. Companies such as Algiecel are already working on portable modules that can be used to cultivate microalgae in various locations. The market for microalgae is expected to reach $25.4bn by 2033. Research is also being conducted on using microalgae in space, with the Danish Technological Institution planning a project funded by the European Space Agency to test growing microalgae on the International Space Station. Despite its potential, microalgae still face challenges such as texture and taste issues, which need to be addressed through further research and development.
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