In the present first year study we grew D. bardawilin outdoor miniponds, harvested the algae by centrifugation and lyophilized the paste to a dry Beta-carotene-rich powder. In parallel, attempts were made to extract the Beta-carotene from the algae and partially purify the 9-cis stereoisomer. The bioavailability of the dry algae and of the different isomeric mixtures of Beta-carotene will be used to compare the natural Beta-carotene accumulation and conversion in aquatic organisms for vitamin A and pigmentation.