A Sustainable Approach to Macroalgae: From Cultivation to Compound Recovery and Biotechnological Applications

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue will address the latest advances in macroalgae, from their cultivation (laboratory studies, pilot-scale studies, IMTA—integrated multitrophic aquaculture, seaweed mariculture, seaweed farming, etc.) to compound extraction and functional ingredient recovery and their applications in green and sustainable areas. The importance of macroalga production has been increasing globally, not only due to the ecological roles of these species, but also because their biomass and compounds have a wide range of biotechnological applications, including in food, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, feed, cosmetics, agriculture, and bioremediation (i.e., nutrient uptake in IMTA). From a cultivation point of view, macroalga farming offers potential benefits including nutrient bioremediation (the removal of nutrients from aquaculture effluents for biomass growth), climate benefits as a CO₂ mitigator, and being a source of ingredients for food and nutraceutical products and biofertilizers. Therefore, in this Special Issue, we will explore new techniques for seaweed production and processing and, in particular, methods enabling the entire process to become more sustainable. In addition, the subsequential steps regarding the harvesting and, in particular, the extraction of compounds of interest and functional ingredients—i.e., pigments, polysaccharides, antioxidants, phenolic compounds, and proteins—are usually considered among the most expensive in algal-based industrial bioprocesses, mainly owing to the excessive processing costs and environmental impacts. Therefore, the application of biorefinery strategies and new emerging extraction technologies could help as part of an integrated solution in a bioprocess that is expected to become less expensive, greener, and more sustainable in the coming years.

We welcome new research on the topics mentioned above, as well as the identification of major opportunities, prospects, and challenges in the development of a more sustainable seaweed industry (i.e., seaweed farming) from cultivation to compound extraction and applications.

Dr. Joana Assuncao
Dr. Isabel Costa Azevedo
Guest Editors

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• macroalgae
• cultivation
• biomass
• compound extraction
• functional ingredients
• biorefinery
• bioremediation
• industry application