A green algae more than 2 billion years old
There chlorella is a green algae appeared on Earth more than 2 billion years ago. Formed of a single spherical cell, it owes its color to the chlorophyll (photosynthesis pigment) that it contains in exceptional quantity .
Discovered in 1890 by a Dutch microbiologist Martinus Willem Beijerinck, the chlorella species has been divided since 2004 into three varieties [1]: Chlorella vulgaris, Chlorella lobophora and Chlorella sorokiniana. Chlorella vulgaris is currently the most cultivated because it is the most suitable for seaweed farms.
Historically, chlorella was first produced and consumed in Asia, mainly in Japan, then very quickly, the island of Formosa (present-day Taiwan) became the world's leading producer.
Additionally, since 1950, much research has been conducted where chlorella was thought to be a useful food. to counter the possible global food shortage [2] linked to the increase in population. Unfortunately, difficult to digest in its natural state, chlorella has not been retained as a viable solution. Indeed, its wall is made up of cellulose needing to be broken before consumption. Discover our 100% natural chlorella !
Its therapeutic capabilities are, for their part, proven. In Japan, it is even considered as food of interest national for health and in 1957 the Institute for Chlorella Research was established there.
Sources
[ [1] Krienitz L. & al. : Phylogenetic relationship of Chlorella and Parachlorella gen. nov. (Chlorophyta, Trebouxiophyceae). Phycologia: September 2004, Vol. 43, No. 5, p. 529-542.
[2] Ortiz Montoya EY. & al. : Production of Chlorella vulgaris as a source of essential fatty acids in a tubular photobioreactor continuously fed with air enriched with CO2 at different concentrations. Biotechnol Prog. 2014 Jul-Aug;30(4):916-22. doi: 10.1002/btpr.1885.
