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Purpose of Review <p>The global market for Omega-3 fatty acids—such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)—is expanding due to their important roles in human brain development and the prevention of chronic diseases. To meet increasing demand, it is essential to identify alternative production sources. Microalgae have emerged as a sustainable, low-carbon alternative to fish oil–derived Omega-3 fatty acids. For large-scale cultivation of marine microalgae to produce Omega-3&#xa0;s, seawater is especially promising because of its abundance and rich mineral content. This review explores the potential of coastal biorefineries as an appealing concept for utilizing seawater to produce high-value compounds through microalgae cultivation.</p> Recent Findings <p>Algal production offers a sustainable and consistent alternative to fish oil–based Omega-3&#xa0;s, addressing both supply limitations and quality issues while supporting the blue bioeconomy. Marine microalgae such as <i>Nannochloropsis</i> sp., <i>Crypthecodinium cohnii</i>, and <i>Phaeodactylum</i> sp., as well as freshwater species such as <i>Chlorella sorokiniana</i> and <i>Scenedesmus</i> sp., are known for their high lipid and Omega-3 content. Notably, the high salt and low nitrogen content of seawater can enhance lipid and Omega-3 production in microalgae. However, to keep the process cost-effective while maintaining product quality, it is essential to carefully remodel upstream and downstream processes—potentially leveraging machine learning and artificial intelligence tools.</p> Summary <p>Using seawater for algal cultivation to produce high-value compounds offers an attractive model for the blue economy. However, process optimization—including strain selection and stress adaptation—is required to efficiently convert seawater nutrients into Omega-3&#xa0;s. This review summarizes the key factors and technologies necessary for effective use of seawater as a resource for Omega-3 production. Future studies should focus on omics-guided strain selection, synthetic biology–mediated strain engineering, and bioprocess optimization for seawater media to develop high-performance algal lines with superior Omega-3 productivity.</p>

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Harnessing Seawater for Algae-based Omega-3 Production: Microalgal Strain Improvement and Cultivation Strategies for Achieving Commercial Robustness

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月3日

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  • Hafiza Aroosa Malik,
  • Mohammed Abdullah,
  • Ayesha Shahid,
  • Anqi Zhao,
  • Alexei E. Solovchenko,
  • Abdulrahman H. Alessa,
  • Hussain Alqahtani,
  • Munazza Gull,
  • Raj Boopathy,
  • Muhammad Aamer Mehmood,
  • Jingliang Xu

摘要

Purpose of Review

The global market for Omega-3 fatty acids—such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)—is expanding due to their important roles in human brain development and the prevention of chronic diseases. To meet increasing demand, it is essential to identify alternative production sources. Microalgae have emerged as a sustainable, low-carbon alternative to fish oil–derived Omega-3 fatty acids. For large-scale cultivation of marine microalgae to produce Omega-3 s, seawater is especially promising because of its abundance and rich mineral content. This review explores the potential of coastal biorefineries as an appealing concept for utilizing seawater to produce high-value compounds through microalgae cultivation.

Recent Findings

Algal production offers a sustainable and consistent alternative to fish oil–based Omega-3 s, addressing both supply limitations and quality issues while supporting the blue bioeconomy. Marine microalgae such as Nannochloropsis sp., Crypthecodinium cohnii, and Phaeodactylum sp., as well as freshwater species such as Chlorella sorokiniana and Scenedesmus sp., are known for their high lipid and Omega-3 content. Notably, the high salt and low nitrogen content of seawater can enhance lipid and Omega-3 production in microalgae. However, to keep the process cost-effective while maintaining product quality, it is essential to carefully remodel upstream and downstream processes—potentially leveraging machine learning and artificial intelligence tools.

Summary

Using seawater for algal cultivation to produce high-value compounds offers an attractive model for the blue economy. However, process optimization—including strain selection and stress adaptation—is required to efficiently convert seawater nutrients into Omega-3 s. This review summarizes the key factors and technologies necessary for effective use of seawater as a resource for Omega-3 production. Future studies should focus on omics-guided strain selection, synthetic biology–mediated strain engineering, and bioprocess optimization for seawater media to develop high-performance algal lines with superior Omega-3 productivity.