Tiny, sun-powered organisms found in freshwater pools could soon fuel Hawaiʻi’s sustainable future.
Tiny, sun-powered organisms found in freshwater pools could soon fuel Hawaiʻi’s sustainable future. Researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa are charting a path to transform microalgae into a “green gold” reality for biofuels, medicine and nutrition. In a study published in Plant Biotechnology Journal, experts from the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR) reveal how cutting-edge synthetic biology and metabolic engineering are clearing the way for microalgae production locally and around the world.
Microalgae excel at capturing carbon dioxide and converting it into high-value compounds such as lipids (oils) and terpenoids (organic chemicals). These can be used to create everything from renewable jet fuel to life-saving medications.
“Microalgae have immense potential because they don’t compete with food crops for land or fresh water,” said Zhi-Yan (Rock) Du, an associate professor in CTAHR’s Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering (MBBE) and the study’s lead author. “Our research focuses on how we can ‘reprogram’ these organisms to produce more of these valuable materials efficiently.”
Read More: University of Hawaii
