Operational, Prophylactic, and Interdictive Technologies for Algal Crop Protection

Abstract

Both open and closed algal mass culture systems, for aquaculture, biofuel, and biotechnology applications, are subject to contamination with deleterious species such as grazers, parasites, and pathogens. In open cultivation systems, pond crashes due to infection with deleterious species can result in the loss of 30% of annualized production. More expensive closed photobioreactors are less prone to infection but nonetheless do fail and can be more difficult to decontaminate than open systems. The development of effective methodologies and technologies to interdict or prevent crashes of algal mass culture systems is necessary to increase biomass production, drive down costs, reduce the risk involved with algal cultivation, and ultimately make it more favorable for investment by entrepreneurs and biotechnology companies. A variety of chemical, biological, and technological controls have been proposed and developed for algae crop protection. We review these previously developed crop protection strategies, along with examining novel strategies and areas of ongoing research and development.