In this programme, we’ll be looking at an unusual food called microalgae and asking whether eating algae might be better for our health and the health of the planet. And of course, we’ll be looking at some of the related vocabulary along the way.
Yuck! I’m not sure about eating algae, Neil! I mean, what’s the strangest thing you’ve ever eaten?
呸！我不确定要不要吃藻类，尼尔！我的意思是，你吃过的最奇怪的东西是什么？
Neil(尼尔)
Well, I once tried fried stick insect in Thailand… and I’ve had ants, as well, that were from Colombia.
嗯，我曾经在泰国尝试过炸棒虫......我也有蚂蚁，来自哥伦比亚。
Sam(山姆)
Ah, OK, yeah – both fairly strange for us here in the UK. But what about pond scum, Neil?
啊，好吧，是的 —— 这对我们英国人来说都相当奇怪。但是池塘渣滓呢，尼尔？
Neil(尼尔)
Pond scum? Pond scum is the slang name for microalgae - green plant organisms, such as spirulina, which grow in water-like ponds and look a bit slimy or scummy before being dried. Here, we’re talking about edible algae, meaning it’s OK to eat.
More than OK, in fact – these types of food algae are actually good for your body! Microalgae like spirulina and chlorella are packed full of proteins, vitamins and antioxidants. Because they are so healthy, they’re having a moment right now, meaning they are becoming more well-known and popular.
Yes, microalgae is trending just now and for good reasons, which we’ll find out about later. But first, let me ask you our quiz question. What do the following three things have in common: oceans, snow and my garden patio? Is it… a) They are all good places to relax; b) They are all very cold c) They are all places where microalgae grow.
Well, I know that oceans and snow are made up of water… but your garden patio? Did your barbeque get rained off again, Neil?
嗯，我知道海洋和雪是由水组成的......但是你的花园露台呢？尼尔，你的烧烤又下雨了吗？
Neil(尼尔)
No, not quite, Sam! Well, hopefully you’ll know by the end of the programme. Now, I mentioned before that microalgae is sometimes called a superfood - a type of food which is essentially full of healthy vitamins, minerals and nutrients. But microalgae is not the first superfood to become popular.
That’s right. In the early 2010s, many juice bars started popping up in places around the world selling green smoothies - energy drinks made by blending healthy ingredients like kale, chard and spinach. The recent trend for microalgae and spirulina has been promoted in part by big drinks companies wanting to sell the latest brightly coloured smoothies.
And more and more, spirulina is also being used as a cooking ingredient – in hot dogs and meatballs – and as a protein-rich substitute for eggs in pasta and mayonnaise.
螺旋藻也越来越多地被用作热狗和肉丸的烹饪原料，以及意大利面和蛋黄酱中鸡蛋的富含蛋白质的替代品。
Sam(山姆)
But as well as all these health benefits, there’s another advantage to microalgae superfoods - one that could potentially benefit the whole planet. BBC Radio 4’s The Food Programme asked Professor Alison Smith, Head of Plant Sciences at Cambridge University, to explain:
但是，除了所有这些健康益处之外，微藻超级食品还有另一个优势 —— 可能使整个地球受益。BBC Radio 4 的 The Food Program 请剑桥大学植物科学系主任 Alison Smith 教授解释：
Alison Smith艾莉森·史密斯：)
As the population of the world increases and the land that’s available for agriculture is becoming stretched, there’s an interest in trying to increase productivity by other means…so sustainable intensification of agriculture is one way…
So food security is an issue - making sure enough nutritionally-rich food is produced to feed the growing world population. Alison Smith says the amount of agricultural land available for growing food is becoming stretched, meaning there are not enough resources, in this case farm land, to meet everyone’s needs.
Yes, and she mentions that one possible solution is sustainable intensification of agriculture - which means increasing food production in ways which don’t damage the environment or use new land.
Well, we know that microalgae are superfoods, nutritionally rich in vitamins and protein, but how do they help reduce the need for agricultural land? Alison Smith explains:
“…they can be grown in all sorts of locations – in water, in oceans, ponds, lakes and so on, even on your patio and on snow… so one of the possibilities is to produce these organisms in cities and towns because they don’t need the open landscape to be grown.”.
I think I’ve spotted the answer to your quiz question, Neil.
我想我已经找到了你的测验问题的答案，尼尔。
Neil(尼尔)
Oh yes? I asked what oceans, snow and my patio have in common. a) They are all good places to relax; b) They are all very cold c) They are all places where microalgae grows.
The answer is c ) - places where microalgae can grow! What an amazing plant! I think I’m going to stop calling it pond scum and use the correct scientific name Prof Smith mentioned, organisms.
答案是 c ） - 微藻可以生长的地方！多么神奇的植物！我想我不会再称它为池塘浮渣，而是使用史密斯教授提到的正确学名，生物体。
Neil(尼尔)
Today’s programme was all about microalgae like spirulina, a green, edible food algae which some people call pond scum, although scientifically speaking it’s an organism, meaning an animal or plant life form.
Yes, and this plant life form is also called a superfood, because it’s especially rich in vitamins, minerals and nutrients which promote good health.
是的，这种植物生命形式也被称为超级食物，因为它特别富含维生素、矿物质和营养物质，可以促进身体健康。
Neil(尼尔)
Superfoods are having a moment right now, meaning they’re becoming more popular or trending because they’re so healthy.
超级食品现在正处于一个时刻，这意味着它们正变得越来越受欢迎或流行，因为它们非常健康。
Sam(山姆)
And another benefit of microalgae is that it grows almost anywhere. So it doesn’t use much agricultural land, which is becoming stretched, meaning there’s not enough of it to meet the world’s food needs. Sustainable intensification is another possible solution to this problem, because it is a way of increasing food production without harming the environment or using new land. Don’t forget you can find lots more learning materials and topical vocabulary on our website at bbclearningenglish.com. Please join us again soon. Bye for now!
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艾莉森·史密斯：)