Drivers behind the current interest in algae are:

Aquaculture

• Algae make development of new species in aquaculture possible (e.g. cod, tuna, grouper, ...).
• Aquaculture is growing in an unsustainable way and is hitting the limits of its business model due to limited availability of fish meal and fish oil.

Energy

• There is a need for sustainable biofuel feedstock without food-fuel conflict (competition for arable land, drinking water).
• Independence of energy sources, harnessing solar energy as chemical energy.

Nutraceuticals /pharmaceuticals/cosmetics

• Search for new sources of anti-oxidants, natural vitamins, phytosterols, carotenoïds, essential fatty acids and amino acids , all available for the nutraceutical & functional food markets.
• Consumers are spending money for natural health solutions.
• Search for new active ingredients in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

Animal feed

• There is a European protein deficit, hence the search for balanced, natural livestock feed.

Waste water

• Solutions for eutrophicated waste water, closing the loop and reducing fresh water needs.
• Degradation of polluting organic compounds, such as hormone analogues

The importance of these drivers is increasing rapidly as a result of the global concerns about sustainability, global warming, food prices, oil prices, oil availability and ecological solutions.

Industrial production of microalgae offers many advantages

• Microalgae have a high yield compared to terrestrial plants.
  
• They allow continuous harvesting as opposed to batch harvesting.
  
• Algae production can be done on marginal, non-arable land unsuitable for agriculture.
• Algae grow in almost any kind of water including seawater, brackish water and some waste water.
  
• Microalgae have a strong nutritional value and are composed of valuable components. Some of these are recently discovered as active substances, some are getting scarce and others await applications.
  
• Algae can serve as raw material for many industries: functional food, nutraceuticals, animal feed, medicines, and biofuels.
  
• Algae consume large amounts of CO2 and return oxygen to the atmosphere in order to build the biomass. Algal biodiesel is therefore carbon neutral.