Scientists Develop Spirulina Rich in Bioactive Vitamin B12

Scientists have engineered a strain of Spirulina that delivers biologically active vitamin B12 at concentrations comparable to beef. The breakthrough came by fine‑tuning the light spectrum during cultivation, which eliminates the non‑usable form of B12 that normally dominates the algae. The resulting product is produced in a carbon‑neutral system, offering a plant‑based alternative that could meet dietary needs without the environmental cost of livestock. The study demonstrates that algae can be optimized for nutrient quality, opening a pathway for scalable, low‑impact vitamin B12 production. If adopted, the technology could reduce dependence on animal‑derived supplements and lower greenhouse‑gas emissions associated with traditional B12 sources.