Microalgae as futuristic feeds for securing chicken production while promoting human health

Livestock keepers face growing challenges, notably rising input prices and escalating biotic and abiotic stresses linked to environmental issues like climate change. These stresses pose problems for farmers but could also adversely affect wider society, including food security and the environment. Agricultural innovations are needed to help address such threats, and nature-based solutions are a promising locus of innovative farm inputs. The present paper reviews the available evidence on one species of microalgae – Arthrospira platensis – and its potential significance for chicken production given these challenges. It finds that this feed possesses multifaceted efficacy, namely boosting the production of meat and eggs, enhancing the resilience of production to biotic and abiotic stresses, and improving product quality. These effects could bolster the economic viability of chicken production. The observed quality effects also create scope for producing biofortified chicken products, with potentially major implications for public health. The paper summarises the evidence on these themes in non-technical language using intuitive metrics. It also frames its findings in terms of key target users of this innovative feed, namely farmers, farm advisors and policy makers. It concludes by discussing the potential significance of this agricultural innovation and highlighting key research and policy priorities.