Realizing algae value chains in arid environments: an Arabian Peninsula perspective

• Published in: Trends in biotechnology (Regular ed.) Vol. 41; no. 6; pp. 750 - 759
• Main Authors: Schipper, Kira, Al Jabri, Hareb Mohammed S.J., Wijffels, René H., Barbosa, Maria J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2023; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Algae; Alternative energy sources; Aquaculture; Arid environments; Arid regions; Arid zones; Aviation fuel; Balances (scales); Biodiesel fuels; Biodiversity; Biofuels; Biomass; Biotechnology; Climate Change; Commercialization; Competitiveness; Decarbonization; Economic diversification; Food; Food security; Fossil fuels; GCC; Groundwater; Humans; Localization; Microalgae; Middle East; Plants; Power plants; Productivity; Raw materials; Regional development; Solar energy; Sustainability; sustainable development; Sustainable production; Saudi Arabia; Arabian Peninsula; Qatar; Middle East; sustainable development; microalgae; commercialization; economic diversification; GCC
• ISSN: 0167-7799; 1879-3096
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2022.11.004

Algae are a promising feedstock for the sustainable production of feed, fuels, and chemicals. Especially in arid regions such as the Arabian Peninsula, algae could play a significant role in enhancing food security, economic diversification, and decarbonization. Within this context, the regional potential of algae commercialization is discussed, exploring opportunities and challenges across technical, societal, and political aspects. Climate, availability of process inputs, and funding opportunities are identified as essential strengths that increase the global competitiveness of regional algae production. Implementation challenges include climate change, securing human resources, and the vital transitioning from research to commercial scales. With balanced management, however, the region’s efforts could be the push that is necessary for algal technologies to take off globally. Microalgae are a high potential renewable resource for food, feed, fuels, and chemicals, especially in arid regions such as the Arabian Peninsula.Bioprospecting of indigenous strains, together with the region’s climate, geography, and natural resources, can sustainably support year-round high productivities at low production costs, with no competition with food production or scarce freshwater resources.Integration with existing (petrochemical) industries could provide sustainable process inputs, such as CO2 and (waste)water, but also co-processing opportunities and product end-users.Regional governmental ambitions for sustainable economic diversification offer unique opportunities for development through R&D, piloting, and start-up phases.