The cultivation of algae is interesting. More and more applications for algoe are being thought of. Except as a basis for the food and fodder industry algae are also in the interest for application in amongst others, the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Algae are primitive plants and partly have the same requirements as tomatoes for growth and development. A combined production is therefore possible and could improve the efficiency of the tomato business.
Three systems compared
Slager developed a unique model which on the basis of the climate outside calculates all year round the climate in the glasshouse, the climate in the photo bio reactors, the growth of the tomatoes and the growth of the algae. He also developed an economic model to assess the various scenarios. After this he did a scenario study on the production of algae at a tomato company. He compared three systems in which the algae cultivation took place in so called photo bio reactors below the plant, on the path or in a separate department. The sizes of the photo bio reactors have been varied in the calculations of the models and also in the calculation of the bio-mass.
From the scenario study it has become clear that the cultivation of algae and tomatoes in one company is possible. The advantage of this is that the facilities
and sources can be combined by both systems. Production in separate departments is economically most favourable. The NVTL jury praised the thesis for its scientific quality, its innovative character and the manner in which the thesis had been written and presented.
Source: WUR Glastuinbouw