Journal of Applied Phycology 7: 1-2, 1995. 1( 1995 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in Belgium.

Trends and opportunities of algal biotechnology in the Asia-Pacific region

Yuan-Kun Lee1 , Kwok Ki Ho2, Renee Chou3, Sushila Chang4, Tet Fatt Chia5 &Swee Ling Yang61Department of Microbiology, 2Department of Botany, 5Institute of Molecular & Cell Biology, NationalUniversity of Singapore, Kent Ridge, Singapore 05113 Marine Aquaculture Section, Primary Production Department, 300 Nicoll Drive, Singapore 17594Department of Biotechnology, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, 535 Clementi Road, Singapore 21596Water Department, Public Utility Board, 111 Somerset Road, Singapore 0923

The Second Asia-Pacific Conference on Algal Biotechnology: Trends and Opportunities was held at the RasaSentosa Resort Singapore between 25-27 April 1994. The conference was organized by the National Universityof Singapore, the Ngee Ann Polytechnic and the Primary Production Department. The Asia-Pacific region coversa vast area around the Pacific Ocean, including temperate as well as tropical countries. Partly due to tradition andpartly due to geographical and climatic conditions, many of the activities related to algal biotechnology today arelocated in the Asia-Pacific region. The diversity of interests and activities is reflected in the number and varietyof papers presented at this conference. The scientific programme was divided into five sessions, each highlightinga different aspect of algal biotechnology. Altogether, 66 papers were presented at the Conference. All submittedpapers were peer-reviewed and the selected papers are printed in this issue of the Journal of Applied Phycology.

The aim of this Conference was to bring together personnel from research institutions and industries with commoninterest in algal biotechnology and to stimulate and encourage exchange of knowledge and experience. It was ourhope that an effective algal biotechnology network would evolve from it. Indeed, an association, the Asia-PacificSociety for Applied Phycology, was formed at the Conference.

Session I Products and applications

The session focussed on algae as a potential sourceof pharmaceutical and biologically active compounds,food, biofertilizer and energy. There was a lot of inter-est among the participants from China and Japan onthe subject area of functional foods. However, none ofthe speakers had submitted manuscripts for inclusionin this proceedings. Participants from India were keenon using nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria as biofertiliz-er (there were 6 presentations on this subject). Therewas a special interest on marine algae, which echoedthe sentiment worldwide that the ocean is a relativelyunexplored source of novel biomolecules. Asia-Pacifichas the largest of all oceans.

Session II Biotechnology

At this session, participants discussed the achieve-ments made in the area of large scale algal culturesystems and their impact on the commercial productionof algae. Generally, the developing countries preferredthe open pond culture systems for microalgae culti-vation. Industrial and agricultural by-products, suchas secondary treated starch wastewater, biogas slurryand groundnut shell ash extracts were used as cheapsubstrates for microalgae cultivation. Several typesof enclosed photobioreactors were mentioned, whichincluded an a-type tubular photobioreactor, a coiledbubble column reactor, a tubular loop photobioreac-tor and a plate-type bioreactor. These enclosed culturesystems have yet to reach a commercial productionscale. A Japanese company producing Dunaliella for/-carotene chose to upgrade its open pond productionsystem by incorporating sophisticated computer aidedmonitoring and process control facilities. A strategy for

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high cell density cultivation of heterotrophic microal-gae using perfusion culture system was reported. Theinterest in heterotrophic cultivation of microalgae inthis region did not appear to be as strong as that inNorth America (Parker et al., 1994).

There was no lack of interest in the cultivation ofmarine macroalgae, considering this region is the mainsupplier of seaweeds. Species of Porphyra, Gracilaria,Eucheuma and Sargassum were mentioned.

Session III Physiology

The influence of light energy on the photosynthesisand productivity of outdoor algal cultures was the maincontention of this session. There were engaging discus-sions on the effect of photon flux density, distributionof light, photoperiod and UV-3 irradiation. However,there was no conclusion as to which facet of light sup-ply was the predominant factor on the productivity ofbiomass. We were left with the impression that thissubject would still be with us for quite a while.

Session IV Molecular genetics

We had presentations on methods in molecular genet-ics, mutagenesis and molecular taxonomic studies.There was a paper proposing the use of genetical-ly engineered nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria as a toxin

delivery system for the control of malaria mosquitoesin the tropics. The immediate impact of molecular bio-logical techniques seems to be the identification andclassification of seaweeds. The problem of contamina-tion by DNA of surface epiphytes was a major con-cern.

Session V Environment

The environmental biotechnologists discussed top-ics concerning the application of algae in pollutionmonitoring and control. Some practical examples ofusing algae in environmental remediation in Japan andKuwait were reported. The impact of harmful algaeon seafarming in the Asia-Pacific area was recognizedand strategies to counter it were proposed. It is hopedthat international collaboration can be forged to tacklethis problem.

The Conference has exposed the long traditionof algal biotechnology in the Asia-Pacific region andshown that it is expanding fast both in terms of scopeand volume. The region is probably and will continueto be the biggest market for algal products.

References

Parker BC, Radmer RJ, Allnutt FCT, Chen H (1994) Microalgalbiotechnology and commercial applications: Introduction. J. appl.Phycol. 6: 91-92.