Tunisian sun turns red algae into a sustainable food industry resource

In Tunisia's Bizerte lagoon, red algae is transformed into valuable food additives using sunlight, creating jobs and aiding marine biodiversity, according to a report by Radio France International. A Franco-Tunisian company, Selt Marine, processes the algae into plant-based gelatine and emulsifiers, offering an eco-friendly alternative for global food industries. 

The project, spanning 80 hectares, took three decades of research to launch and will see further investment of €8 million in the next few years. Workers meticulously clean and sun-dry the algae, avoiding chemical bleaching used by competitors. "The whiteness achieved by the Tunisian sun signifies quality," says founder Mounir Boulkout.

Selt Marine produces nearly 10,000 tonnes of algae per year, and the sustainable farming methods are attracting fish and shellfish, helping to restore marine life to an overfished.

Warming waters from climate change have led the firm to concentrate production in the cooler months of October-June as well as expand to Mozambique and Zanzibar to achieve year round production