Author: Carrie Cox

This month the momentum for supporting technologies that put carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to good use got a boost in Congress with the introduction of the bipartisan Carbon Utilization Act of 2018. The House bill would support utilization technologies, such as algae cultivation, by allowing them to qualify for support through (USDA) loan guarantees, rural development loans, and research programs.

The legislation was introduced by U.S. Congressmen Scott Peters (CA-52) and David Young (IA-3), and has a complement in the Senate that was introduced by Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). All four of these elected officials hail from states that are home to several ABO members and robust algae cultivation operations. 

If passed, the new policy would lead to “increased biogas production as part of a diverse mix of energy sources, from natural gas to nuclear, to wind and solar, and even algae, to meet our future energy needs,” said Rep. Peters.

ABO has worked closely with its membership and Congressional leaders to build support for new technology development policies that can accelerate the role algae could play in energy, agriculture and other industries.

“Algae and other emerging technologies are transforming carbon emissions from [an] environmental challenge to economic opportunity. The Carbon Utilization Act recognizes the important role USDA can and must play in supporting farmers, small businesses, and rural utilities in the deployment of carbon capture and use and the development of value-added products from recycled carbon. ABO thanks Congressmen Peters and Young for their leadership in this important work,” said Matt Carr, Executive Director of Algae Biomass Organization.

Read more in this press release. 

This helpful article on the sustainable living website eartheasy.com touts the benefits of gardening with seaweed. Mulching with seaweed collected at the beach saves water, enriches soil, repels pests, and boosts productivity, according to founder Greg Seaman.

“Seaweed will benefit your garden any time of year, but it is especially useful as a mulch to protect plants during hot, dry weather. In our garden, we’ve come to rely on seaweed as a valuable, yet free, source of fertilizer, mulch and organic pest control all in one natural material.”

Among other tips, Seaman suggests using small, broken-up seaweed gathered a few yards inland from the water’s edge. Once home, apply a 4-inch-thick layer on top of the soil in place of conventional mulch.

Greg isn’t alone. Chris Hull at Organic Authority makes a similar case in this article, adding that natural seaweed has 60 trace minerals and ready-to-use nutrients including nitrogen, potassium, phosphate, and magnesium.

A recent study in the journal Biomaterials proposes using photosynthetic green microalgae to solve a pressing problem in the field of regenerative medicine. After a burn or other serious injury, a patient’s dead tissue is surgically removed, and a dressing is applied to the wound. The body eventually recovers by forming a scar.

Advancements in the field of artificial tissue engineering have enabled the prospect of using a patient’s own cells to grow new skin and muscle tissues in a laboratory, which can then be transplanted at the site of the wound. However, researchers have been unable to engineer viable capillaries given their small size and fragile meshwork. Faced with this challenge, the researchers in this study cleverly chose to circumvent this problem by incorporating algae into the tissue scaffolds prior to implantation.

When the algae embedded in the cell tissue are exposed to light, they undergo photosynthesis and produce oxygen, where it is locally available to neighboring cells. Incredibly, the study also shows that algae in engineered tissues can be genetically modified to safely produce and deliver beneficial molecules like human growth factors directly to cells in addition to oxygen, further enhancing recovery.

In case you were wondering, that green color eventually disappears. The algae, having served their function, are broken down and absorbed by the body.

The BIO World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology is the world’s largest gathering of the industrial biotech sector, bringing together the biggest names in food and agriculture, energy and manufacturing, and more. And this year the Congress will host its first ever Algae Day!

ABO is partnering with BIO to present a full day of algae programming on the conference’s opening day, Tuesday, July 17, featuring presentations from leading ABO members, including Algama, Algenol, Arizona State University, Corbion Biotech, DSM, Qualitas Health and more. Sessions include:

• Microalgae: Your Sustainable Source for Vital Nutrient Solutions
• Strategies to Fast Track Algae Biofuels and Products Research
• Scaling Up Algae Omega-3s
• Algae: A Top Food Trend Today, Potential for Food Security for Tomorrow

Then join ABO staff and Directors for a Meet & Greet at the conclusion of the day’s programming, 6:00-7:30pm at 13 Restaurant in the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown. RSVP here. Join us!

Meet the Biggest Names in the Algae Industry at this Special Networking Session Before the Algae Biomass Summit!
  
We have just announced a new, exclusive session that will kick off the 2018 Algae Biomass Summit this year in The Woodlands, Texas!

Algae 101 is a chance to meet face-to-face with the scientific and commercial leaders that are turning algae into a game-changing technology.

Hear from the insiders that are using algae to revolutionize food, nutrition, water treatment, advanced materials, energy and many other markets.

Register soon–this exclusive session sold out last year!

 
Algae 101
Sunday, October 14, 2018
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center
The Woodlands (Greater Houston), Texas
$75 for ABO members
$100 for non-members

Learn more