A farming facility for algae production is seen in this photo provided by the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology.
JEJU, June 19 (Korea Bizwire) — The Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST) said Sunday it will establish a marine algae foundry capable of producing five tons of spirulina annually.
The project, currently under government review, will involve setting up a farming facility spanning 3,300 square meters of land on Jeju Island.
The facility aims to produce five tons of marine algae biomass each year.
Spirulina, which contains 290 calories per 100 grams, boasts four times the caloric content of a potato.
As a potential solution to future food shortages, it is considered a viable food alternative.
Currently, South Korea relies solely on imports for its supply of spirulina. In the previous year, the country imported 135 tons, incurring a cost of 12.6 billion won (US$9.85 million).
To conduct a spirulina production test, the KIOST is utilizing four farming facilities at its Jeju Research Institute. Each round of testing incorporates seven tons of Jeju lava water.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
