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Yet another year seems to have sped by, bringing us the holiday season, and with it innumerable family gatherings, parties with co-workers, and cheerful conversation. We here at ABO have pulled together a few helpful talking points on algae to ensure that you are the life of the party wherever your holiday travels take you:
Are the kids asking what makes Santa’s sleigh so fast? He could be using algae biofuels!
Algae can be used to make all the fuels we need: ethanol, diesel, gasoline, and jet fuel. And since they consume carbon dioxide as they grow, algae-based biofuels can help cut down on the greenhouse gases that are warming the Earth and threatening the ice at the North Pole.
Santa can also feed his reindeer with super-sustainable feeds from algae.
Algae-based feeds are perfect for reindeer, who live far from the farmland needed to supply hay and other forage. Not only would the high protein content and Omega-3 oils help fuel Rudolph and his team all night long, but algae-based feeds are also more sustainable than conventional feeds:
- They have less than 10% the carbon footprint of conventional feeds
- They use less than 10% of the land requirements of traditional feeds
- They have less than 20% the water impact of traditional feeds
Studies have already shown that feeds based on algae can meet and exceed the performance of traditional feed formulations.
That sounds pretty good, you say. Can I eat algae too?
Algae-based foods for humans are already becoming available in the supermarket, so don’t be surprised if some of your holiday meal includes one of the-the most sustainable ingredients known. Solazyme recently introduced an algae-derived cooking oil with a mild flavor profile, high cooking temperature and an insanely high ratio of monounsaturated fats (those are the hearty-healthy kind most of us need to eat more of).
How does Aunt Debbie manage to look so young?
She may be using algae-based nutraceuticals and personal care products. Algae’s Omega-3 and antioxidant content offer major benefits including anti-ageing and hydration properties and have already made their mark in the premium cosmetics sector in the U.S. She could also be taking an algae-based Omega-3 supplement, one of the most mature markets for algae, to improve her cardiovascular health.
If the holiday libations have you moving a bit slower in the morning you can always try the world’s best hangover cure: algae!
We came across this recent claim that Chlorella, a freshwater algae, may be one of the world’s best hangover cures for its ability to detoxify the liver and provide much-needed vitamins and minerals. You may also want to try Spirulina, which can often be found in popular fruit smoothies and as a stand-alone supplement. Or you may want to mix your algae into your cocktail–check out the Green Machine & Vodka drink.
So make a toast to algae, the perfect solution to liven up holiday chatter, to build a stronger economy and to create a more sustainable planet.
Have a great holiday season!
Matt Carr
Executive Director
Algae Biomass Organization
