Microalgae are microscopic algae. They are incredibly diverse, with hundreds of thousands of strains, and are typically found in water and soil. Like their higher plant cousins, microalgae can perform photosynthesis, and are vital to life on Earth – they form the base of the food web and produce about half the oxygen in the atmosphere. Although they are single-celled, microalgae typically contain a balance of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins, and have huge potential as a sustainable food source for people, crops, animals, and microorganisms. Applying microalgae to the soil has proven benefits for a wide range of crops, including corn, soybeans, winter wheat, spring wheat, almonds, canola, cotton, rice, peanuts, fruits, forages, alfalfa, and specialty crops.