Macroalgae Feed Products With Microbial Pretreatment for Digestibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Macroalgae are underutilized as animal feed ingredients due to their recalcitrant nature and high salt content, limiting their inclusion rates and digestibility, which hinders their potential to reduce carbon intensity and cost in aquaculture and agriculture.

Innovation Solution

Microbiological pretreatment of macroalgae using microbial consortia derived from the digestive tracts of marine herbivorous fish, such as kyphosids, to create a partially digested feedstock that enhances digestibility and nutritional value, reducing carbon footprint and cost.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If macroalgae are included as feed ingredients, then carbon intensity is reduced and cost is lowered, but digestibility and inclusion rate are limited due to recalcitrant nature and high salt content

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecarbon intensityVSAvoiddigestibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by using microbial consortia to pre-digest the macroalgae before inclusion in feed formulations. The microbial community breaks down the recalcitrant polysaccharides and degrades harmful compounds in advance, making the macroalgae more digestible and suitable for inclusion at higher rates while maintaining the carbon intensity and cost benefits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of energy

If macroalgae are included as feed ingredients, then carbon intensity is reduced and cost is lowered, but inclusion rate is limited due to recalcitrant nature and high salt content

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecarbon intensityVSAvoidinclusion rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If complex polysaccharides from macroalgae are used, then gut health benefits are provided as probiotic and roughage, but digestibility is limited and utility as feed ingredient is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegut health benefitsVSAvoiddigestibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the intermediary principle by introducing microbial consortia as mediators that bridge the gap between the indigestible polysaccharides and the animal digestive system. The microbial community breaks down the complex polysaccharides into more digestible forms while preserving the gut health benefits, effectively mediating between the harmful indigestibility and the beneficial gut health effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies self-service by utilizing the microbial consortia to perform the digestion function that would otherwise require the animal to directly digest the complex polysaccharides. The microbial community serves the dual function of breaking down the indigestible polysaccharides and providing probiotic benefits, essentially serving the animal's digestive needs without requiring the animal to directly process the difficult-to-digest material.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The partially digested macroalgae (PDMA) significantly improves growth rates in fish and livestock, offering a sustainable, low-cost, and environmentally friendly feed alternative with reduced carbon intensity, while providing nutritional benefits.

Implementation Method 1

microbiological pretreatment of macroalgae using microbial consortia derived from the digestive tracts of marine herbivorous fish

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFermentation: Fermentation

Implementation Method 2

microbial consortia to pre-digest the macroalgae, or to create a partially digested feedstock

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBiological degradation: Decomposition (biological)

Data Source

PatentUS20250295720A1Designed macroalgae feed products

Publication Date: 2025.09.25 ALLIANCE FOR ENERGY INNOVATION LLC

AI summary

Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for the microbiological pretreatment of macroalgal biomass, to create an alternative, low cost, environmentally friendly, scalable and sustainable source of key nutrients for aquaculture and live-stock industries. In an embodiment, disclosed herein is an aquatic feedstuff and ingredient quality that has no dependence on wild fishery or terrestrial resources, and in addition provides a fish-health and productivity benefit to the fish. This feed quality benefit is thought to extend to additional feed formulations, e.g. livestock (poultry, swine, etc.).