Algaculture
Algaculture is the cultivation of algae in managed systems to produce food, feed, fuels, chemicals, or other materials.
Photobioreactor: A controlled vessel or system that grows photosynthetic organisms using light and supplied nutrients. Closed photobioreactors control light, contamination, and gas exchange during algal growth.
Spirulina: The common name for edible biomass from certain Arthrospira cyanobacteria, sold as a dietary supplement and food ingredient. Spirulina cultivation supplies a widely marketed protein-rich algal product.
Algae: A diverse, informal grouping of photosynthetic organisms that generally live in aquatic or moist environments. Algaculture cultivates organisms grouped under this broad and diverse name.
Open pond aquaculture: The farming of aquatic organisms in outdoor ponds exposed to the surrounding environment. Algal ponds share open-water conditions but cultivate algae rather than animals.
Raceway pond: A shallow, loop-shaped pond in which circulating water supports the growth of microorganisms. Raceway ponds are a common low-cost method for cultivating microalgae at scale.
Chlorella: A genus of single-celled green algae cultivated for food, supplements, and research. Chlorella is grown commercially as biomass for human consumption and other uses.
Microalgae: Microscopic photosynthetic organisms, including eukaryotic algae and cyanobacteria, grown in water or other media. Many commercial cultivation systems grow suspended microalgae.
Closed photobioreactor cultivation: The growth of photosynthetic organisms in enclosed, engineered vessels or tubing. Closed systems offer more environmental control than open algal ponds, usually at greater expense.
Algal harvesting: The separation and collection of algal biomass from its growth medium. Harvesting often consumes substantial energy and affects the cost of algal products.
Algal biofuel: Fuel produced from algae or their components, including oils converted into biodiesel or other fuels. Fuel production is a major proposed use of cultivated algal biomass.