Commercially grown microalgae not only provide vital nutrients to combat child, maternal, and elderly undernutrition but also offer a greener alternative to traditional farming, helping to reduce carbon emissions and wastewater pollution. Image Credit: Chokniti-Studio / Shutterstock In a recent review article published in the journal Nutrition , researchers in Australia discussed the potential of commercially farmed microalgae to address global nutritional issues. They concluded that microalgae consumption has various health benefits and that cultivation has several advantages, including the fact that it does not require pesticides or arable land.
Undernutrition: a global concern Nutritional deficiencies are a pressing issue around the world, with experts suggesting that child and maternal undernutrition accounts for the greatest loss of life years due to poor health and disability. Undernutrition in older adults is also a significant issue, increasing their risks for chronic diseases, muscle mass loss, and diminished physical and mental functioning. Older adults also suffer undernutrition and are particularly deprived of energy and protein.
Microalgae produce around 50% of the Earth's oxygen and are essential for absorbing carbon dioxide, making them crucial for environmental sustainability. Estimates indicate that more than 20% of children under five years of age are too short for their age and that undernutrition is a cause of 45% of deaths among children of this age. Impr.
