Arthrospira production in Vietnam: Current status and prospects

Abstract The blue-green microalgae Arthrospira was firstly introduced in Vietnam in the 1970s. Until now, the production of Arthrospira is still far from meeting the growing demand for dietary supplements, feeds, and biofertilizers. It was a paradox that most Arthrospira production plants located in the Northern provinces were characterized by cold winter with a temperature of about 10–15°C while only a few production plants in the South where the climate was favourable for large-scale production year around. Therefore, it is necessary to have better strategies and suitable techniques to increase productivity and yield. Based on the data obtained from the investigation, the production areas of Arthrospira should be set up in the South rather than in the Northern regions to take advantage of the natural condition for better yield. This paper outlines the history, current situation, and prospects of Arthrospira production in Vietnam.