As global agriculture confronts depleted soils, escalating input costs, and the mounting pressures of climate change, an ancient yet often overlooked life form is returning to the forefront of scientific and commercial interest: microalgae. These microscopic organisms, foundational to Earth’s ecosystems and responsible for capturing nearly as much carbon as the world’s forests, hold immense, largely untapped potential to transform how we grow food.
In an exclusive conversation with The Interview World at the 3rd Edition of BRAND R.Comm – Agriculture & Rural Communication Summit & Awards 2025, organized by Snail Integral Pvt. Ltd., Debabrata Sarkar, Chairman and Managing Director of AlgaEnergy, explains how microalgae, long misunderstood and underestimated, are now poised to reshape sustainable agriculture. He highlights their power to rejuvenate soils, redefine biofertilizers, and anchor the next wave of agricultural innovation.
Here are the key insights from his compelling discussion.
Q: How important will microalgae become for agriculture in the near future?
A: Microalgae remain widely misunderstood, even though they are foundational to life on Earth. In the nutraceutical world, people may recognize spirulina and chlorella, yet these are only a glimpse of a vast universe of more than 23,000 species. As the very first step of the food chain, microalgae play a crucial ecological role. They capture an astonishing 200 gigatons of carbon dioxide every year, an impact most people never realize.
What surprises many even more is how deeply microalgae are embedded in everyday products. The paste we use relies on crystallized microalgae shells, and even the fillers come from microalgae-derived materials. Despite being single-celled organisms, they carry extraordinary potential. This is precisely why microalgae are often called the “food of the millennium.”
A single microalgal cell contains virtually every essential nutrient needed by living organisms, including plants. In essence, it is a complete food source compacted into one microscopic unit, and that is the true power of microalgae.
Q: In what ways are microalgae expected to support and advance sustainable agriculture in the future?
A: Microalgae is extremely important. As I emphasized earlier this week, anything used in excess becomes harmful. We must maintain balance, whether through integrated pest management, optimized fertilizer application, or judicious pesticide use. In this context, microalgae offer remarkable potential to restore equilibrium to the agricultural ecosystem.
To be fair, microalgae are not the only contributors; macroalgae also play a significant role in various applications. Yet microalgae stand out because they can substantially strengthen the sustainability dimension of modern agriculture, particularly in biofertilizers, soil restoration, and overall ecosystem resilience.
Their impact is no longer theoretical. One innovative product that combines microalgae with mycorrhizae, patented globally, with me as one of the patent holders, has already demonstrated its effectiveness across continents. This formulation is now used widely not only in India but also in Brazil, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, and Mexico. Its success across such diverse agro-climatic zones, soil types, and geographies clearly shows that the combination performs consistently and effectively.
Moreover, it significantly enhances soil organic carbon by stimulating robust microbial activity. The biomass generated by this synergy of microalgae and mycorrhizae increases soil microbial populations and drives essential biochemical processes. Multiple universities across India, Australia, and Spain have validated these results, adding scientific credibility to what farmers are already experiencing in the field.
Q: How are Indian agricultural scientists approaching the use of microalgae?
A: When I joined AlgaEnergy, the first question I asked myself was simple: Is blue-green algae, our microalgae, our phytoplankton, really new to India? After all, I was bringing this technology from Spain. To my surprise, the answer was no. As far back as 1971, Indian scientists had already published multiple papers demonstrating the effectiveness of blue-green algae as a biofertilizer for paddy cultivation and as a powerful tool for soil reclamation.
Paddy grows in highly anaerobic, water-logged conditions, and yet microalgae thrive there. They not only balance soil pH but also help reclaim degraded land and enhance fundamental grain attributes, including the shelf life of rice. These benefits were scientifically established decades ago.
However, somewhere along the way, this knowledge disappeared from mainstream agricultural practice. As a result, I found myself bringing back to India, albeit in a more advanced, differentiated form, a technology that Indian researchers had already validated long before. It is unfortunate, but it reflects the reality of how valuable innovations can get lost in transit.
Q: What transformative innovations could microalgae bring to the future of agriculture?
A: Microalgae can shape the future of agriculture in several transformative ways. My philosophy has always been that progress depends on individuals who choose to act rather than wait for “somebody” or “nobody” to step forward. I genuinely believe microalgae carry the power to drive meaningful, sustainable change, starting with the soil, our most fundamental life-support system.
Beyond soil, every living organism depends on three essentials: healthy air, clean water, and fertile land. And among these, soil is the first principle; it anchors our food systems, our ecosystems, and ultimately our survival. Microalgae can restore this foundation. They can revitalize degraded soil, rebuild its structure, enrich its biology, and strengthen its long-term resilience.
In doing so, microalgae hold the potential to redefine the fundamentals of soil health and create conditions that support future generations. The urgency is real, and the need is immense. We require solutions like this, now more than ever.
