The right mix of products
It’s not clear exactly why Nature has worked it this way, but corn is long on starch and carbohydrates, while algae is long on protein. Each crop produces both — and both produce oil, too. But algae produces more oil and more protein.
In this example from Cellana’s demonstration farm, typical commercial production strains come in with 25% oil content and 10% carbohydrate, around 50-60% protein and the rest is ash.
We seem to be hitting hard on corn here but we are using it as a proxy for a successful, established global crop that’s been expertly managed by growers and seed producers. Ear corn is around 4% oil, 30% protein and the rest is starch carbohydrates and ash.
