ISSUE FOCUS FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE May 2022 21 that in order to meet our global climate change targets and achieve a sustainable equilibrium, we need to work towards a circular economy that eliminates waste and pollution, keeps materials in circulation and regenerates nature. This must replace our existing linear “use and discard” model which has led to unbalanced nutrient cycles.1 Food and feed industries are playing a significant role in this matter. Given the negative impact of conventional animal feed sources, such as soy, on climate and forested lands, alternative solutions are highly sought-after. So, the use of microalgae in animal nutrition sector is attracting a fast-growing interest because of their unique properties and capabilities for health promotion and environmental protection. The key factors driving today’s interest in microalgae and its derivatives include microalgae’s high yield of healthful macro- and micro-nutrients such as carotenoids, its rapid accumulation of biomass, and its non-competing nature with crops for arable land.3 Adding to those is the growing market demand for natural, sustainable, plant-based, environmental- and planet-friendly food and feed solutions. MICROALGAE AS RICH SOURCE OF HEALTHFUL PHYTONUTRIENTS Carotenoids are a class of bioactive natural molecules synthesized by plants and certain photosynthetic microorganisms, like microalgae. They are an essential component due to their eminent photoprotective and antioxidant properties. Astaxanthin is a reddish pigment from the xanthophyll carotenoids family responsible for the red-orange color of a number of marine animals and microorganisms like salmon, crabs, krill, lobsters, and even flamingos. It has a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, higher than most other commonly known antioxidants. For instance, it has been shown that natural astaxanthin is 110 times stronger than vitamin E and 6000 times stronger Figure 1. Main commercialized applications for microalgae.2
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUxNjkxNQ==