The Algae Farmer

Master practical algae cultivation techniques and launch your small-scale algae business

The Algae Farmer is a practical, hands-on guide to this unique, emerging form of aquaculture, covering every aspect of home or micro-industrial scale cultivation for market.

Algae supply over 70% of the world's oxygen and are primary producers in marine and terrestrial ecosystems, forming the base of many food webs. These ubiquitous organisms have been used for centuries as dietary staples around the world, and now represent a multibillion-dollar global industry.

In this highly accessible, lavishly illustrated, full-color guide, phycology expert William Padilla-Brown shares:

• The natural history, ecological functions, and many regenerative benefits of fresh and saltwater algae


• Surprising contemporary uses - algae species range from microscopic (such as spirulina and chlorella) to large multicellular forms (seaweed), and are found in foods as diverse as ice cream, smoothies, soups, and sushi, as well as in superfoods, nutraceuticals, pigments, livestock feeds, fertilizers, and biofuels


• Small-scale growing and harvesting techniques for beginners including bioprospecting, species selection, nutrient media, and building photobioreactors and centrifugation and filtering equipment using commonly available materials


• Case studies of successful algae farmers and a vision for algaculture's thriving future.

The fastest-growing of all agricultural crops, algae is ideal for non-fertile land and urban locations. The Algae Farmer will appeal to sustainable food producers, permaculture enthusiasts, citizen scientists, and anyone committed to exploring creative and innovative solutions to food and resource insecurity.