The Future is Green: How Algae Can Change the World (and It’s Easy to Understand)

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Algae is a broad term for all living organisms that use photosynthesis, excluding land plants. They primarily thrive in water and moist environments, and they come in many different forms, sizes, and characteristics, such as seaweed, freshwater algae, and single-celled algae. Some are microscopic, while others can grow to several meters in size. For example, familiar types of algae include wakame seaweed and kombu. Algae have been around long before humans appeared, playing a fundamental role in establishing the Earth’s natural cycles. It's no exaggeration to say that algae built the foundation of the world as we know it.

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When Earth’s oceans first formed, over 90% of the atmosphere consisted of carbon dioxide. Algae emerged in the oceans and, through photosynthesis over a long period of time, increased the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere. Today, our air is made up mostly of nitrogen and oxygen, with only a small amount of carbon dioxide. It’s thanks to algae that we now have an environment where humans can survive.

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During this process, carbon dioxide accumulated underground, eventually transforming into oil, coal, and natural gas—resources that humans later began using for energy. If we trace it back to the source, our ability to breathe and use energy today is largely due to algae.

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First, it’s important to understand that the Earth is currently facing a serious energy crisis. For a long time, we’ve relied on large-scale, cheap, and uniform energy, mainly from oil and coal. However, if we continue on this path, it will be impossible to maintain a stable global environment. Right now, humans consume about 0.6 zetajoules of energy annually (a joule is a unit of energy, work, heat, or power—1 joule equals the effort needed to lift a 102-gram object one meter. Zeta represents 10 to the power of 21). It’s estimated that only 10 zetajoules of oil remain in the ground, meaning we could run out in just a few decades.
That’s why at CHITOSE Group, we’re promoting the idea of recycling resources with the help of algae, which absorb carbon dioxide and produce organic matter.

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In 2022, a presidential order in the United States declared that “in the future, the bioeconomy, led by algae-based photosynthesis, will become a 4500 trillion yen industry.” This sparked attention toward a future without petroleum.

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In capitalist societies, fields that draw this kind of attention tend to attract significant economic investment. As investors focus on these areas, rapid development often follows.
We believe the bioeconomy offers a path for humanity to grow while also protecting the global environment. It shows how the mechanisms of capitalism can align with the movement to solve environmental challenges. Algae, as it turns out, is not only environmentally beneficial but also economically profitable.

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There are many ways to generate energy, such as solar power, wind power, and nuclear fusion, but most of these methods only produce electricity. Algae, on the other hand, can do much more through photosynthesis. It can generate organic matter like proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and even fuel. For example, airplanes can’t run on electricity alone—they will always need fuel. The ability to supply that fuel using algae is a major advantage. While corn can also produce organic matter, algae is far more productive per hectare. I wouldn’t go so far as to call algae an all-purpose solution, but it is certainly more efficient than many other methods.

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Cultivating algae has a much lower environmental impact compared to other forms of energy production. One major advantage is that it uses very little water. For example, producing 1 kilogram of protein from a cow requires 105 tons of water during the breeding process. With algae, water is recirculated during cultivation, so only a small amount is needed. Additionally, since algae don’t require soil, they can be grown in diverse environments, from dry deserts to humid jungles. While it may not be immediately apparent in Japan, freshwater supplies are dwindling globally, and topsoil is being lost at an alarming rate. Algae offer a way to make efficient use of land that otherwise couldn’t be farmed.

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Yes. While it’s possible to grow algae by supplying sugar, the process of importing sugarcane and extracting sugar consumes a lot of energy and releases significant carbon dioxide. This would actually worsen the environment. That’s why at CHITOSE Group, we focus on photosynthesis to cultivate algae in an eco-friendly way.
If we could create algae fields covering the same area as the world’s cornfields, and cultivate them through photosynthesis, we could produce 40 times the protein, 2.2 times the calories, and 0.5 times the oil needed by humans. Combined with alternative energy sources, algae could help build a more sustainable future.

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The latest calculations show that for algae plants to make a significant positive impact on the global environment and economy, they need to cover at least 2,000 hectares. The benefits of algae cultivation increase with scale, so larger operations are far more effective than smaller ones. Additionally, as mentioned earlier, energy costs can be high if algae aren’t grown through photosynthesis.
Currently, we cultivate algae by stacking flat cases, each 5 centimeter wide, vertically. After experimenting with various methods, we found this to be the most cost-effective way to produce algae at scale. CHITOSE Group’s goal is to expand algae farms to 10 million hectares by 2050.
Building algae plants, however, requires an enormous financial investment. The main challenge isn't technology—it’s scale. There’s a limit to what we can achieve on our own, so we’re collaborating with governments and companies worldwide to move towards a future where algae plays a central role in energy development.