The growing world population and ecological requirements pose challenges for food production. A conference in Neubrandenburg revolves around their future. Algae are also an issue.
Neubrandenburg (dpa/mv) – According to experts, cultivating algae for food production offers “incredible potential”. However, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has some catching up to do here, said the scientist Michael Sandmann from the Neubrandenburg University of Applied Sciences, the German Press Agency. “Other federal states are definitely ahead of us here.”
Under the title “Rethinking food value creation”, representatives from science, business and politics also want to discuss how ideas find their way from the laboratory to the supermarket shelves on Friday in Neubrandenburg. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania’s Agriculture Minister Till Backhaus (SPD) has also announced his intention.
According to Sandmann, the great potential of algae lies in their rapid growth. “They can grow 10 to 100 times faster than our typical agricultural crops.” On the other hand, countless products can be made from the microorganisms: from food supplements and cosmetics to biological plastics. Scientists even see protein-rich algae as a possible pillar of nutrition for a growing world population.
According to Sandmann, Neustadt Glewe (Ludwigslust-Parchim district) has one of the largest algae farms in Europe. Otherwise, the north-east accommodates at most smaller producers. In MV, most of the initiatives in this area come from research or in the form of funded projects, but less from business.
The leap to industrial production is also difficult because of the high production costs. There are also working business models for this, for example with higher-priced food supplements. The knowledge is there and, in principle, can also be implemented by farmers who have previously worked conventionally. “You just have to trust yourself in this new topic.” Algae would be grown in a kind of aquarium – so-called photobioreactors.
