Researchers have engineered Spirulina to produce biologically active vitamin B12 at levels matching beef, potentially solving a major nutritional limitation of the blue-green algae, according to a study published in Discover Food.
Led by Dr. Asaf Tzachor, Founder and Academic Director of the Aviram Sustainability and Climate Program at Reichman University, alongside collaborators from Iceland, Denmark, and Austria, the international team used advanced biotechnology to cultivate carbon-neutral Spirulina biomass containing the vitamin form humans actually absorb. Over a billion people worldwide are estimated to have low levels of the essential micronutrient, which supports red blood cell formation and nervous system function, according to background data cited in the research.
Biotechnology and Light Management Transform Spirulina
Conventional Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) has long been promoted as a nutrient-dense food source. Yet, it has carried a critical flaw: most of its vitamin B12 content exists as pseudo-vitamin B12, which is not bioavailable to humans, meaning the body cannot effectively use it. To bypass this barrier, researchers evaluated a biotechnology system developed by VAXA Technologies in Iceland, testing how modified light environments could alter the cyanobacterium’s metabolism without genetic modification.
By applying precise photonic management inside the reactors, the research team successfully induced the production of active vitamin B12. According to the study, more than 98% of the measured vitamin B12 in the cultivated biomass was in its active form. The resulting carbon-neutral product yielded 1.64 micrograms of active vitamin B12 per 100 grams, a concentration that aligns with the 0.7 to 1.5 micrograms per 100 grams typically found in beef.
Scaling Production to Tackle Global Deficiencies
Meeting the recommended intake of 2.4 µg/day traditionally relies on animal-source foods like meat and dairy, sectors linked to heavy environmental costs. Scaling livestock production to eliminate worldwide deficiencies carries severe environmental trade-offs, driving interest in more sustainable alternatives. To gauge the potential reach of photosynthetically controlled Spirulina, the research team modeled potential expansion scenarios based on heavy industry electricity reallocations in Iceland.
Under one projected scenario, reallocated industrial electricity could power the annual production of 277,950 tonnes of Spirulina biomass, generating approximately 4555 grams of active vitamin B12 per year. Calculations indicate this output could supply the recommended dietary allowance for over 13.8 million children aged 1-3. More ambitious scaling scenarios could theoretically meet the daily intake requirements for more than 26.5 million children aged 1-3 and over 50 million children aged 0-6 months, providing a scalable blueprint for future nutritional interventions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes this new form of Spirulina different from traditional supplements?
Traditional Spirulina contains pseudo-vitamin B12, which the human body cannot use. The newly engineered biomass developed via VAXA Technologies photobioreactors contains over 98% biologically active vitamin B12, matching the nutrient profile of beef.
How was active vitamin B12 produced in the algae without genetic modification?
Researchers used photonic management—carefully controlled artificial light conditions within enclosed photobioreactors—to alter the metabolism of the cyanobacterium.
Can this cultivated Spirulina replace meat and dairy immediately?
Not yet. While the nutritional data is promising, further research and larger-scale production will be needed to determine how the technology could fit into real-world food systems.
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