S134: Food and Fuel in the 21st Century – Algae as a potential new source of both

Food and fuel are all simply different forms of chemical energy, and as such are closely interrelated.  These products are ultimately derived from photosynthesis, the process by which sunlight energy is converted to chemical energy. Over the last 100 years we have exploited fossil fuels to drive unprecedented economic and agricultural growth, but in so doing we have released sequestered CO2 into the atmosphere, which is now beginning to impact our climate. In addition, fossil fuel reserves are finite, and we are now starting to see the initial signs of depletion of these reserves, including the rising cost of energy.  As fuel costs rise, so does the cost of food, and this increase in food cost will impact societies long before the rising cost of fuel does. Eukaryotic algae offer tremendous potential for the large-scale production of biofuels and bio-products as algae require only sunlight as an energy source and sequester CO2 during the production of biomass. Our challenge is to domesticate algae as rapidly as possible to allow these highly productive species to become efficient energy, food, and bio-product production platforms. The challenges, potential, and some early successes of algae as a source of biofuels and bio-products will be discussed.