" How do we solve the problem of Algae overgrowth?"
Taihu Lake, located in Jiangsu Province in the Yangtze Delta, is China's third largest freshwater lake, covering an area of about 869 square miles or 2,250 square kilometres with an average depth of about 2 metres. ( Much larger than Lough Neagh , but not so deep).
In 2007 there was a significant algal bloom which led the government to instigate a program to tackle the problem aggressively. This included controlling nutrient pollution from agriculture and industry. In a series of tests, various algae control solutions were implemented. Each solution has challenges and is expensive to implement. One solution that Southeast University in Nanjing has developed is a system that mimics the fish that can eat the algae and not suffer from the toxic effects. Thus part of the algae control program is to turn a challenge that causes multiple negative problems into a solution that benefits the community.
These include an enhanced environment, reduced odours,
protection of wildlife, the improvement of the tourist industry, and the economic benefits of turning the algae into a profit-making business by harvesting it and turning it into a nutritious and harmless food substance that can be safely fed to livestock. Other benefits include rendering the water safe to be used as a source for drinking and creating job opportunities. In short, a very beneficial solution for everyone concerned."
One of the unfortunate side-effects of global warming and the use of nitrates in fertilisers is the increasing prevalence of poisonous algal blooms in our rivers and lakes. The end results are BAD....
These include:
So.. What can be done?
Many current solutions are not great either. Controlling the algae by using algaecides can also poison all the rest of the aquatic life. Controlling the amount of nutrients that enter the waterways would have a detrimental effect on the local farming community. Using coagulants, surface skimming, aerators, flocculation, ultrasound, and other control methods are frequently insufficient, intrusive, and always prohibitively expensive. Surprisingly though, not all creatures hate algae. Some fish devour it. That is because they have evolved certain enzymes that can break down the algae into non-toxic elements. They thrive by eating the very thing that causes the problem.
Noticing this, a Chinese scientist named He Chunpeng managed to synthesize this and apply it on an industrial scale. This means that the algae can be harvested and used. It has value! The benefits of this are multiple and include:
Can people eat it? Yes. It is actually fit for human consumption. It has the same nutritional value as soybeans but is considerably cheaper to produce. It can be mixed into animal food without any negative impact. It has no toxic effect whatsoever. An elegant solution for an environmental challenge.
For more information check out the links below.
If you want more details feel free to get in touch with us @
Whatsapp +64 27 531 1224.
Thank you -Ray Heller / He Chunpeng
https://2019.igem.org/Team:SEU-Nanjing-China/
Download Treatment of Earth Cancer - Producing High Efficiency Feed Protein from Blue-green Algae
Download Treatment of Earth Cancer - Producing High Efficiency Feed Protein from Blue-green Algae 2