Two University of Arizona professors, Dr. Floyd Chilton and Dr. Joel Cuello, are pioneering a sustainable spirulina-based solution to address global food insecurity and malnutrition. Their work centers on cultivating spirulina, a high-protein cyanobacteria, in cost-effective bioreactors designed to operate in climate-affected regions. Spirulina, with 78% protein per dry weight, offers complete essential amino acids and is rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Grown in compact, bubble-column bioreactors, it requires minimal land and fresh water, sequesters carbon dioxide, and produces oxygen, making it an eco-friendly choice. The team is creating simple, locally constructible bioreactors to ensure self-sufficiency for vulnerable populations. Dr. Cuello highlights that controlled-environment bioreactors enable year-round, resilient food production despite climate disruptions. Future clinical trials will explore spirulina’s potential to improve child health, addressing pressing global hunger as over 733 million people faced food insecurity in 2023.
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