Abstract
Global population growth necessitates meeting nutritional demands while mitigating environmental impact. Seaweed aquaculture emerges as a promising avenue to address these challenges, offering sustainable biomass for pharma- and nutraceutical applications. However, open-sea cultivation faces environmental risks such as heat waves and storms, leading to biomass loss and reduced yields. Onshore cultivation presents a viable alternative, despite potential land use concerns. Because the aquaculture sector has witnessed unprecedented growth, there is a push for innovative approaches to boost productivity and sustainability. Recent studies highlight the benefits of incorporating purple non-sulphur bacteria (PNSB) as biofertilizers and bio-stimulants in terrestrial agriculture. This research seeks to harness the potential of marine PNSB strains for seaweed cultivation through microbial engineering of the seaweed holobiont. The methodology involves the discovery and selection of suitable marine PNSB strains, developing a co-cultivation system and investigating the nutritional composition and health-effects of this purple-boosted seaweed. The primary focus is on achieving a high-quality seaweed product enriched with bioactive compounds from PNSB, rendering it suitable for applied nutritional applications for both human consumption and aquaculture feeds.
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