algae-biotechnology
Algae biotechnology is the applied science of engineering and harnessing algae — including microalgae and macroalgae — for useful products and processes such as biofuels, bioplastics, pharmaceuticals, and high-value compounds. Because algae are photosynthetic organisms closely related to land plants, research in this field deepens our understanding of photosynthesis, carbon fixation, and lipid metabolism that are fundamental to plant biology. Advances in algal genetic engineering and cultivation systems also provide transferable tools and insights for improving crop plants and sustainable agricultural practices.
open_in_new WikipediaPubMed · 2026-05-01
Researchers review how living organisms — algae, microbes, and plants — can clean polluted freshwater lakes and rivers while also producing usable materials like biofuels or fertilizers. This dual-function approach transforms water remediation from an environmental cost into a circular, resource-generating system.
Bio-resource technologies using algae, microbes, and plants can remove multiple contaminant types simultaneously — including excess nutrients driving algal blooms, heavy metals, and synthetic organic pollutants.
Remediation biomass can be converted into value-added products, linking ecological restoration directly to circular economy principles and reducing net costs of water treatment.
Techno-economic analysis and supportive policy frameworks are identified as critical gaps; seasonal variability and secondary pollution risk remain the primary technical barriers to widespread deployment.