Better World Award 2025 for Valeriya Denisova: Research on Algae Cultivation in Brandenburg
The prize is jointly awarded by the university, the Universitätsgesellschaft Potsdam e.V. in with LAND BRANDENBURG LOTTO GmbH. It recognises research projects by early-career scientists that show particular societal relevance and potential for sustainable transformation.
In her Master's thesis, titled “Evaluation of the nutritional value and in vitro protein digestibility of Ulva compressa cultivated in a brine-based system”, the nutrition scientist successfully cultivated the green alga, commonly known as “sea lettuce”, in saline brine from Brandenburg – without freshwater and independent of coastal locations. This cultivation method requires neither arable land nor large surface areas, opening up new possibilities for sustainable food production in regions without access to the sea.
The analysed algal biomass shows a nutritionally interesting composition: it contains relevant levels of protein, polysaccharides and carotenoids. Its amino acid profile is comparable to that of soy – overall, the alga has a slightly lower protein content, yet a higher proportion of dietary fibre and antioxidants.
The results illustrate how alternative food sources can contribute to future food security – a central goal of food4future. The project explores ways to produce food in urban environments independently of fertile soils and freshwater. The successful indoor cultivation of macroalgae represents an important proof of concept in this context.
Further Information
- Research article: Sea vegetable for brine-based inland cultivation
- Website of the BMBF-funded research consortium “food4future – Food for the Future”