A project output of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) National Aquafeeds R&D Program under the Development of Algal Paste from Microalgae was showcased through a poster presentation during the 9th Asia-Pacific Conference on Algal Biotechnology (APCAB) held recently in Thailand.
Ms. Soledad S. Garibay, Algal Paste Project Leader, presented her poster titled, “Use of banana, Musa balbisiana peel extract as organic culture medium for green microalgae, Tetraselmis sp.”
In her study, banana peel extracts of M. balbisiana, a local banana variety that is rich in nutrients like starch, sugar, vitamins A and C, potassium, calcium, sodium, and magnesium, were used as organic culture media for the cultivation of microalgae species.
The poster showcases a promising eco-friendly organic fertilizer that can pave way towards the establishment of an organic aquaculture for microalgae.
APCAB is a triennial international conference conducted in different countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The 2016 conference with the theme, “Algae for Food, Feed, Fuel and Beyond,” was organized and hosted by the King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) in Bangkok, Thailand. It provided a venue for the sharing of experiences among students, researchers, scientists, and people working on macro- and microalgae from the government and private sectors.