Seaweed and microalgae as alternative sources of protein

"One of the greatest challenges we face in the 21st century is to provide an affordable, nutritionally balanced, safe and sustainable food supply for a growing global population. To meet this challenge, we must develop novel food and nutrient sources to complement traditional foods. Seaweed and microalgae have great untapped potential as sources of high quality protein and other nutrients. This book provides a comprehensive review of this potential written by leading authorities in the field." Professor Dennis D. Miller, Cornell University, USA As the global demand for meat increases due to population and economic growth, more pressure has been placed on the animal feed sector to support sustainable livestock production, whilst also ensuring the nutritional value and palatability of feed. With traditional sources of protein, including oilseeds and distiller grains, considered as major contributors to climate change, there is growing interest in establishing alternative, more ‘climate-smart’ sources of protein, such as seaweed and other forms of microalgae that can supplement livestock diets. Seaweed and microalgae as alternative sources of protein summarises current advances in utilising macroalgae and microalgae as alternative sources of proteins. The collection reviews processes of protein formation in macroalgae and microalgae, macroalgae farming and processing as well as microalgae bioprocessing. Chapters also discuss the practical application of seaweed as an alternative protein source in ruminant, pig, poultry and fish diets. Edited by Professor Xin Gen Lei, Cornell University, USA, Seaweed and microalgae as alternative sources of protein will be a standard reference for researchers from universities or other research centres involved in macroalgae/microalgae production and livestock nutrition, companies involved in the manufacture or supply of animal feed or livestock nutrition services, government and other agencies regulating the animal feed sector, as well as farmers interested in furthering their knowledge on recent developments in the animal feed/livestock nutrition sector. Dr Xin Gen Lei is Professor of Molecular Nutrition in the Department of Animal Science at Cornell University, USA. Professor Lei has an international reputation for his wide-ranging research in nutrition as well as algal biomass research. Amongst his many achievements, Professor Lei developed a new phytase enzyme that is now used in 46 countries to improve feed phosphorus bioavailability to animals and reduce their phosphorus excretion. He has won a number of awards from The American Society for Nutrition and the American Society of Animal Science. He is Associate Editor of the Journal of Nutrition as well as President of TEMA (Trace Elements in Man and Animals).