"I was surprised that no one in Cantabria took advantage of the algae resource" - El Faradio |Journalism that counts

In 2016 this project was born, of which Lara Arroyo is one of her spearheads.She has been a researcher for several years, very linked, in addition to ecological types.And he is recognized that nobody did a job like ‘Cantabria algae’.

Especially since it sees that there is a very interesting potential in the community."He had scientific fabric and potentiality of Cantabria as a community linked to the sea, but no one exploited this resource of algae," he says in an interview with El Faradio in the morning, in Arco FM, within the section 'The energy of change', that is broadcast every Friday by the hand of Solabria.

"Algae are fundamental in coastal ecosystems," says Arroyo.Its wide presence is key, because it helps to protect the coast, also by the great "CO2 capture" that they do, because they serve as food and are natural habitat of many marine species.

This researcher explains that the ‘Algae de Cantabria’ project is not collected, but that we take very little and fattening it in our collective plants ».In this way, the ecosystem is not attacked.If all the raw material was collected from the sea, it would be a natural good, but with their cultivation techniques they only need a few samples that then replicate in their tanos plant (Torrelavega).

"By controlling cultivation conditions, our algae are all the same, they have a homogeneous composition, something very useful for cosmetic and health articles," he says.The importance of doing these crops away from the sea is important because "we minimize the risk of heavy metal contamination and other compounds in the sea".

It has been detected that "the coastal areas are very impacted" by pollution, and in fact the regulation is increasing, "because the algae accumulate those metals".Thus the product comes out in ideal conditions and does not involve any health risk.

Climate change is also something that affects algae."Temperature changes, huge movements of species, variations in distribution, the effects of currents, changes in the intensity of light ...", Arroyo.And algae, precisely, function as "centinel organisms" through which we can better know those changes that are taking place.

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However, in Cantabria there is still abundance of algae, with many species present in the rocky areas of the coast.And in addition, the quality of our waters are still good in almost all our coast, so it is still a very useful resource.

At cosmetic industry, Algae de Cantabria has a whole line of products (which can be consulted on its website, AlgasDecantabria.com) For its "very good properties for the skin".Creams or soaps can be found, with exfoliating, antioxidant, anti -aging, blue radiation or sun protection properties.

Arroyo points out that this is because, in the intermareal areas, algae exhibit a great ability to adapt to very different conditions, for being several hours on surface and others under seawater.In addition, this company is also in the process of investigating what other things can be used on this element.

At a medical level, algae also serve to produce drugs or as part of surgical treatment, either in complex operations or in microcirugia.They even have compounds that can replace heparin, something very useful for allergic patients to it.

Although they are something that generates repairs when we bathe in the sea, algae also has a high food value, used in the preparation of different things such as sausages or ice cream, in addition to something that has been entering our gastronomic landscape assushi or sashimi."We eat algae practically every day, although we don't know," Razo reveals.

And it is that algae have so much variety that there are different intensities in terms of flavor and also in terms of aroma.The type of green algae they grow in ‘Cantabria algae’, according to Arroyo, "have a very strong aroma, but the taste is a bit softer".And extol that gastronomic potentiality.

Goes further, because there are many populations that have long taken this classic marine element.."Many coastal populations have subsisted thanks to algae, for their high value in nutrients", and it is also used as "fertilizer or even bed for cattle.There have been supported famines thanks to algae, ”he says.