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A green algae more than 2 billion years old

Chlorella is a green algae that appeared on Earth more than 2 billion years ago. Made up of a single spherical cell, it owes its color to the chlorophyll (photosynthesis pigment) which it contains in exceptional quantities .

Discovered in 1890 by 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 most suited to algae farms.

Historically, chlorella was produced and consumed first in Asia, mainly in Japan, then very quickly, the island of Formosa (present-day Taiwan) became the world's leading producer.

In addition, since 1950, much research has been carried out when 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 was not chosen as a viable solution. In fact, its wall is made up of cellulose which needs to be broken before consuming it. Discover our 100% natural Chlorella !

Its therapeutic capabilities are, for their part, proven. In Japan, it is even considered a food of national health interest and in 1957, the institute for research on chlorella was created there.


Sources

[ [1] Krienitz L. & al. : Phylogenetic relationship of Chlorella and Parachlorella gen. nov. (Chlorophyta, Trebouxiophyceae). Phycologia: September 2004, Vol. 43, No. 5, pp. 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.

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