Cassava and Microalgae Use in the Food Industry: Challenges and Prospects

Abstract

Cassava is a good source of carbohydrates and a staple diet in many countries. It has a high-calorie count but a low protein and fat content. Microalgae biomass is increasingly being used in the food business industry due to its ease of production, low carbon requirements, and small footprint. The usage of microalgae in combination with cassava is becoming more common as it can boost the amount of nutrients in processed cassava products. In this chapter, we discuss the development of cassava products that combine cassava with microalgae. Furthermore, cassava waste contains carbohydrates, which can be used as a carbon source for the development of microalgae. Cassava starch, when modified to become cationic cassava starch, has the potential to be used as a flocculant agent for the separation of microalgal biomass. Cassava starch is also well-known for being a low-cost source of bioplastics. This chapter also addresses the possibilities for microalgae and cassava to be used as bioplastics in the same way.