METHODS FOR PRODUCING ZOOPLANKTON

Abstract

A method of producing zooplankton biomass rich in a target compound, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing one or more species of microalgae and/or cyanobacteria; (b) optionally stimulating the microalgae and/or cyanobacteria; (c) contacting the microalgae and/or cyanobacteria with one or more species of zooplankton which feed thereon; and (d) collecting a portion of the zooplankton; wherein waste from the zooplankton is fed back to the microalgae and/or cyanobacteria

Claims

1. A method of producing zooplankton biomass rich in a target compound, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing one or more species of microalgae and/or cyanobacteria; (b) contacting the microalgae and/or cyanobacteria with one or more species of zooplankton which feed thereon; and (c) collecting a portion of the zooplankton, wherein waste from the zooplankton is fed back to the microalgae and/or cyanobacteria.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein step (a) is carried out in a first chamber and step (b) is carried out in a second chamber.

3. A method of providing a composition comprising a target compound, the method comprising producing a zooplankton biomass rich in the target compound according to claim 1, and extracting the target compound from the zooplankton.

4. A system for producing biomass rich in a target compound, the system comprising: (i) a first chamber comprising microalgae and/or cyanobacteria; (ii) a second chamber comprising zooplankton; (iii) means for carrying the microalgae and/or cyanobacteria from the first chamber to the second chamber; (iv) means for carrying waste from the second chamber to the first chamber; and (v) means for collecting a portion of the zooplankton.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the system includes a closed loop.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein providing includes providing one or more species of microalgae.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the target compound comprises lutein.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the target compound comprises astaxanthin.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the microalgae provides a precursor which is metabolised to produce the target compound by the zooplankton.

10. The method of claim 1, which produces an oil rich in one or more fatty acids selected from linoleic acid (LA), -linolenic acid (ALA), -linolenic acid (GLA), arachidonic acid (ARA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), or eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).

11. A composition obtained by the method of claim 3.

12. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising: stimulating the microalgae and/or cyanobacteria between steps (a) and (b).

15. The system of claim 4, further comprising: (vi) means for stimulating the microalgae in the first chamber.

16. The system of claim 4, wherein the target compound comprises lutein.

17. The system of claim 4, wherein the target compound comprises astaxanthin.

18. The system of claim 4, wherein the microalgae provides a precursor which is metabolised to produce the target compound by the zooplankton.

19. A medicament comprising the composition of claim 11.

20. A food supplement or nutraceutical comprising the composition of claim 11.

21. A cosmetic comprising the composition of claim 11.

22. An antioxidant comprising the composition of claim 11.

Description

[0089] The invention may be further described with reference to FIG. 1. This flow diagram illustrates how the invention works in practice. Microalgae and/or cyanobacteria is provided in a first chamber 1 which is connected to a second chamber 2 comprising zooplankton. A conduit 3 allows algae to flow from chamber 1 to chamber 2. Aeration is provided by air pump 4. Waste water and nutrients from chamber 2 are directed by water pump 5 along channel 6 back to chamber 1. Zooplankton may be periodically harvested from chamber 2 via conduit 7.