If you buy algae supplements–or foods with microalgae as an ingredient, industrial-scale production facilities.
In a prototype of an urban algae farm now on display in an exhibition in Kazakhstan, designers from the London-based ecoLogicStudio worked with marine biologists and algae farmers to show how algae could fit inside existing buildings where people live and work.
In one room, coils of lightweight glass tubes are suspended from the ceiling, attached to pumps that visitors can press to send carbon dioxide to the algae and help it grow. In another room, the only light comes from bioluminescent bacteria. A third space shows how the algae can be harvested and transformed into either food or energy.
The harvested algae could also be used to produce energy for heating or electricity. While producing algae in large tanks or farms is probably more efficient, the designers see another reason for bringing production into cities, particularly into public spaces. Instead of wondering where a product comes from, consumers could watch it grow. A network of mini-farms throughout a city could work together to supply both food and energy.
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