Engineered Spirulina Produces Beef-Level Active Vitamin B12 in Carbon-Neutral Process
Scientists have created a light-controlled Spirulina strain that contains biologically active vitamin B12 at amounts similar to beef, offering a sustainable alternative to animal sources.
Researchers from Reichman University, together with partners in Iceland, Denmark, Austria and Austria, have demonstrated that adjusting light conditions during Spirulina cultivation can trigger the production of bioavailable vitamin B12. The resulting algae, grown in a carbon-neutral photobioreactor, contains roughly 1.64 µg of active B12 per 100 g, matching the levels typical of beef. This breakthrough addresses the long-standing issue that standard Spirulina only carries a non-usable B12 analogue.
Scenario modeling indicates that large-scale deployment could supply the daily B12 requirement for over 13.8 million toddlers, and potentially far more with expanded capacity. The study, published in Discover Food, highlights how biotechnology can reshape the nutritional profile of fast-growing microbes, pointing toward greener solutions for global micronutrient deficiencies.
Why it matters
It shows a viable, low-impact way to fight worldwide vitamin B12 shortages without expanding animal agriculture.
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