Macroalgae are going beyond human food and cosmetics.

In Galicia, Alganut has just been launched, a project that will work on feed made from marine macroalgae enriched with selenium for dairy cattle, laying hens and broiler chickens.

The initiative responds to a threefold challenge facing European livestock farming: reducing dependence on antibiotics without losing productivity, lowering the environmental footprint and offering foods with higher nutritional value.

According to its promoters, the fibre in algae and its bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols and sulfated polysaccharides, could strengthen the animals’ intestinal barrier and microbiota, reducing digestive disorders and antibiotic use by between 20% and 40%.

Several studies also suggest that certain macroalgae could cut methane emissions from dairy cattle by between 20% and 80%.

At BIOCHAINS Atlantic, we are following initiatives like this one with interest.