Microbial lipids: Progress in life cycle assessment (LCA) and future outlook of heterotrophic algae and yeast-derived oils

This review assesses the current life cycle literature available that relates to heterotrophic algae and yeast microbial oil production, evaluating where current gaps in knowledge and uncertainties lie. It also includes relevant LCA information from other production processes. Overall, the review finds significant gaps relating to both life cycle inventory and impact assessment information. Improved industrial data sets are needed, particularly for novel feedstocks, and cultivation and downstream processing towards non-fuel products. The implications of synthetic biology also need to be addressed. Impact assessment does not currently include a broad range of impact categories, focusing predominately on energy use and climate change. And to answer wider implications questions, further LCA studies are needed that take a more consequential approach. Addressing these areas is vital to ensure commercial viability, sustainability and public acceptance of the technology going forward.