Cultivation of Nannochloropsis oceanica using food grade industrial side streams: Effect on growth and relative abundance of selected amino acids and unsaturated fatty acids

Developing more resource-efficient food production is needed to sustainably support a growing world population. Microalgae present a promising, future source of food ingredients, especially if cultivated using industrial side streams. In this study, Nannochloropsis oceanica was cultivated using food grade process water from industrial enzyme production as a source of inorganic nutrients. Effects on growth and the nutritional quality of produced biomass, with focus on selected fatty acids and amino acids, were investigated. One of the two tested side streams replaced up to 40% of a commercial nutrients supplement with no negative effect on either growth or the content of nutritionally important amino- and fatty acids. The other tested side stream hampered both growth and significantly reduced the content of omega-3 fatty acids in the biomass at only 20% replacement level. The diverging results are likely caused by differences in the macro- and micronutrient profile, but further investigation into the side streams composition is needed to unravel the exact cause. If optimized, the use of such side streams can help reduce both the resource input and cost of producing N. oceanica as a future, sustainable source of food ingredients.