# Biomolecules from Microalgae and Cyanobacteria: Applications and Market Survey
## 3 Current Uses of Microalgae and Cyanobacteria in Industry
### Microalgae and Cyanobacteria as Food, Dietary Supplements, and Feed
Between 2017 and 2019, three microalgae/microfungi (_Euglena gracilis_--Euglenozoa, _Tetraselmis chui_--Chlorophyta, and _Aurantiochytrium limacinum_--Fungi) were recommended for full Qualified Presumption of Safety status, according by the European Food Safety Authority [97]. Table 5 presents examples of the authorized microalgae and Cyanobacteria and their respective allowed levels for specified foods given by the union list of novel foods in accordance with Regulation European Union (EU) 2015/2283 of the European Parliament and of the Council on novel foods ([[https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/)]([https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/)), accessed on 27 November 2020) and also by the FDA [98]. _Schizochyrium_ sp. oil, extracted in specified conditions, was authorized as a novel food by the EFSA [99]. Many companies are producing this oil, rich in DHA, such as DSM (Heerlen, The Netherlands), Progress Biotech (Capelle aan den Ijssel, Netherlands), Biophys Life Sciences PvT (Bengaluru, Karataska, India), Mara Renewables Corporation (Dartmouth, NH, Canada), and BASF (Ludwigshafen, Germany) (Table 4). It was proposed as an alternative to fish DHA. Carotenoid production is also in perpetual growth, with a CAGR estimated at 4.2%. Its annual market size is projected to grow from USD 1.5 billion in 2019 to USD 2 billion in 2026 (www.marketsandmarkets.com/, accessed on 26 January 2021). This rise goes together with scientific acceptance and authorization. Betatene, produced by BASF, is an extract of \(\beta\)-carotene from _Dunaliella salina_ used as dietary supplements as well as functional foods and beverages. _Dunaliella_ production also increased from 1200 tons.year\({}^{-1}\) to 3000 tons.year\({}^{-1}\). The _D. salina_ global market is estimated to reach a CAGR of 5.1% and will evolve from USD 472.3 million in the year 2020 to US D 671 million by 2027 (www.researchmarkets.com, accessed on 26 January 2021). The EFSA has accepted the use of an AST-rich oleoresin from _Haematococcus lucstris_ (Chlorophyta) algae as a food supplement up to 40-80 mg\(\cdot\)day\({}^{-1}\) (Table 5) [100]. AST was shown to be a powerful dietary antioxidant. There are also many companies producing AST, such as Fuji Chemical Industries Co., Ltd. (Toyama, Japan), Cyanotech (Kailua-Kona, Hawai, HI, USA), Algalif (Reykjanesbaer, Iceland), and Microphyt (Baillargues, France). Its global market is expected to reach USD 770 million by 2024, where the global nutraceuticals industry will be assessed to have consumed 54.8% of _H. lacustris_ microalgae natural AST in 2017 to reach 190 metric tons by 2024 (www.businesswire.com, accessed on 14 February 2021). The _H. lacustris_ market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 13.2% from 2020 to 2027 to reach USD 148.1 million by 2027 (www.globenewswire.com, accessed on 14 February 2021). \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c} \hline \hline
**Microalgae/** & **Fraction** & **Specified Food Category** & **Maximum Dose** & **Authorized by** \\
The introduction of microalgae as food ingredients and the demand for high-added-value products are increasing despite some concerns of the algae powder consistence, color, fishy smell, and production cost [101]. Some companies have incorporated _Chlorella_ in noodles (Sun Chlorella (Torrance, CA, USA), Paldo (Seoul, Korea)), bars and cookies (Allma (Lisboa, Portugal)), and in mayonnaise to replace eggs (Fooding Company (Sucy-en-Brie, France)) (Table 6). Microalgae constitute equally an important feed for animals, especially with the expansion of aquaculture, the reduction of land fertility, and scientific evidence on their positive effect on animal health. For example, carotenoids have been incorporated as a pigment in egg yolks, broiler skin, fishes, and crustaceans. Microalgae feeds are largely used in aquaculture and poultry as a source of DHA and proteins.