A living experiment on the pavement.
A maintained microalgae culture adds a small biological function to hard urban space where soil, canopy and conventional planting may be difficult.
RS SerbiaIn practice. A public microalgae photobioreactor has operated in Belgrade since 2021, with further research and pilot work documented.
What to keep in view
The developers' mini-review is not an independent comparative field trial. LIQUID 3 is not a substitute for urban trees, shade or emissions reduction. Tree-equivalence claims depend on assumptions, and field-scale air-quality and lifecycle benefits remain limited and context-sensitive.
Keep an algae culture in the city
LIQUID 3 is a compact microalgae photobioreactor developed by the University of Belgrade's Institute for Multidisciplinary Research. A public unit has operated in Belgrade since 2021, with later research and pilots in other climates.
Dense, serviced or shaded sites can make tree planting difficult. The project tests a different biological system, but its value depends on measured local performance and maintenance, not viral comparisons with mature trees.
A small installation has a specific role
A biological urban service moved from permanent soil and canopy toward a visible liquid culture that depends on active servicing and can occupy a small hard-surface footprint.
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Put the growing room beside the energy source.
Both use microalgae, but at different scales and for different purposes. Compare a public-space air-treatment pilot with a production system for algae ingredients.
Try growing plants below the sea’s surface.
Both place a living process inside a carefully controlled enclosure. The important comparison is how conditions are maintained and measured, not the novelty of the container alone.