In a futuristic indoor farm in Iceland powered by geothermal energy, scientists are growing microalgae, hoping it will become the next hot superfood on the market. As BBC detailed, Iceland's Vaxa Technologies — a global food and climate tech company — believes it has huge potential to be an eco-friendly, nutritious food source for both humans and animals.
The microalgae grow in photobioreactors, small vessels that use artificial lights to help the organisms photosynthesize. The pink and purple hues of the LED lights may give the facility a futuristic vibe, but humans have eaten seaweed for thousands of years. Vaxa is simply putting a modern, energy-efficient spin on cultivating it.
"It's a new way of thinking about food production," general manager Kristinn Haflidason told BBC.
In the capital of Reykjavik, Vaxa grows the microalgae Nannochloropsis as food for people and as feed in shrimp and fish farming. It also cultivates the bacteria Arthrospira, or blue-green algae, to produce spirulina, a popular supplement rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals.
Read more at The Cool Down