The study identifies a sustainable solution to vitamin B12 deficiency

In a new study published in the journal Discover foodDr. Asaf Tzachor, founder and academic director of the Aviram Sustainability and Climate Program at Reichman University, along with a team of scientists from Iceland, Denmark and Austria, report on the use of cutting-edge biotechnology for photosynthetic cultivation. controlled spirulina and produce carbon-neutral and nutritious biomass containing biologically active vitamin B₁₂at a level comparable to beef. It is the first biologically active B vitamin₁₂ has been reported in Spirulina.

Their new study reveals a potential solution to one of the most common micronutrient deficiencies: B vitamins.₁₂. With more than a billion people worldwide suffering from low levels of this essential vitamin, getting enough B vitamins depends on meat and dairy products.₁₂ consumption (2.4 µg/day) poses significant environmental problems.

While the blue-green algae Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) has been proposed as a healthier and more sustainable substitute for meat and dairy products, the so-called traditional Spirulina has remained a viable alternative due to its pseudo-B vitamin content.₁₂a form that is not bioavailable to humans. This limitation has hindered its potential to address vitamin B₁₂ deficiencies and completely replace beef in the human diet.

In the new research, an international team of researchers from Reichman University, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (Vienna, Ruppin Academic Center, Danish Institute of Technology and MATIS from Iceland) tried to overcome this challenge.

The team evaluated a biotechnology system developed in Iceland by VAXA Technologies, focusing on its technical components, inputs (such as energy) and outputs, including biomass composition. The system uses photonic control (modified light conditions) to increase active vitamin B.₁₂ production in Spirulina along with other bioactive compounds with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties.

This innovative approach produced a carbon-neutral, nutrient-dense biomass that contained biologically active vitamin B12 at levels comparable to beef (1.64 µg/100g in PCS vs. 0.7–1.5 µg/100g in beef).

Dr. Tzachor explains: “The findings show that photosynthetically controlled Spirulina can produce the desired active vitamin B12, providing a sustainable alternative to traditional animal foods.”

The study also explores scenarios for increased production that have profound implications for global nutrition. Iceland could produce 277,950 tons of Spirulina biomass per year by redistributing electricity from heavy industry. This output translates to approximately 4,555 grams of active vitamin B12 per year, which corresponds to the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for more than 13.8 million children aged 1-3 years. More ambitious scenarios suggest the possibility of meeting the RDA in more than 26.5 million children aged 1–3 years and over 50 million children aged 0–6 months.

This breakthrough marks an important step towards addressing the global B vitamin₁₂ deficit sustainably, reducing dependence on environmentally taxing meat and dairy production.