What in the World Is Algae Farming?

To begin with, you might want to know what algae is. Isn’t it that slimy stuff you find at the top of your pool after a few hot summer days? Or the gooey green floating around your goldfish pond? Yes it is, and it turns out to have some interesting abilities and benefits. True, some algae is toxic, like blue green algae, which produces neurotoxins. But most are harmless and potentially useful.

Algae farming, or algaculture, entails the same general principles as farming corn or soybeans. One of the interesting things about this stuff is that it looks like a plant and acts like a plant, but it is a single cell organism, with photosynthetic abilities. It is able to change sunlight to chemical energy. This energy comes in the form of oil similar to vegetable oil. Sound familiar? As you know, vegetable oil can be used to make fuel; in this case, biodiesel. (more…)

What in the World Is Algae Farming?