Author: Carrie Cox

Dr. Martin Gross, the CEO and co-founder of Gross-Wen Technologies (GWT), recently concluded his term as Chair of the Algae Biomass Organization’s (ABO) Board of Directors. This latest leadership role is a testament to the power of the connections and opportunities that the Algae Biomass Organization (ABO) offers to its members. Dr. Gross’ journey from a student-level ABO membership to a successful business leader began at the 2013 Algae Biomass Summit, where he showcased his research as a Ph.D. student at Iowa State University.

At that event, Dr. Gross not only discovered a global community of researchers working on complementary topics in algae and seaweed science but also encountered a diverse group of entrepreneurs, executives from Fortune 500 companies, and federal agency experts. All these individuals were united by a common goal: to transform scientific progress into viable solutions that also have extraordinary environmental benefits.

As subsequent Summits unfolded, Dr. Gross’s connections within the ABO community continued to grow. One of the defining moments came when he met Dr. Kuldip Kumar of MWRD Chicago in the exhibit hall. Their discussion sparked the idea of using Dr. Gross’s research innovation for the treatment of wastewater. Leveraging his newly expanding network and expertise, Dr. Gross founded Gross-Wen Technologies and, with the support of Dr. Kumar, successfully deployed a proof-of-concept demonstration at MWRD Chicago.

The impact of this demonstration was profound; it provided GWT with the validation needed to showcase their capabilities to potential clients. Dr. Gross attributes much of GWT’s subsequent success in the wastewater treatment industry to the connections he made within the ABO community. 

“It’s hard to believe this all started with a friendly chat at an Algae Biomass Summit,” he says. “But I see now how that sort of thing can lead to big things. You never know where a new connection can lead.”

GWT utilizes cutting-edge technology developed in Iowa State University laboratories to treat wastewater using algae. The result is a clean water stream and a valuable crop of algae biomass that can be marketed for various applications, such as soil-enhancing fertilizers, biofuels and more.

Today, GWT stands tall as a market leader in the wastewater treatment industry, with 35 demonstrations and full-scale installations of their technology in operation. The company has raised an impressive $13.1 million in venture capital and employs more than 20 dedicated professionals. Dr. Gross’s vision and hard work, combined with the support and expertise of the ABO community, have driven GWT’s innovation and growth in this challenging field.

“It was also a lot of work and we had a lot of support from investors, partners and colleagues,” he notes. “But the foothold I gained and the expertise from the ABO community were, and continue to be, invaluable.”

Looking ahead, Dr. Gross extends an open invitation to anyone with an interest in algae and seaweed solutions for global challenges to connect with the ABO. He encourages aspiring entrepreneurs, scientists, and business leaders to explore ABO membership and to participate in the upcoming 2023 Algae Biomass Summit in Madison, Wisconsin, scheduled from October 9th to 11th.

As the story of Dr. Martin Gross exemplifies, ABO offers not only access to a wide range of experts in algae and seaweed science but also opportunities for aspiring visionaries to transform their innovative ideas into successful businesses with profound environmental benefits. Learn more how ABO can play a role in your own journey in the world of algae and seaweed. Reach out to ABO executive director Jon Kallen at jkallen@algaebiomass.org.

October 11, 2023, 12:15-4:00 pm
Buses depart from the Monona Terrace Convention Center
$150 for ABO members, $175 for non-members.

Attendees of the 2023 Algae Biomass Summit will have the option of seeing some of the latest algae wastewater treatment technologies from ABO member CLEARAS in action. Participants will tour the EcoRecover systems at the wastewater treatment plant for the city of Waupun, Wisconsin. 

The CLEARAS EcoRecover is an advanced wastewater nutrient recovery system that delivers clean water for reuse or discharge, decarbonizes client operations, and provides a method of plant-based material generation for eco-friendly product development. The Waupun EcoRecover facility is the largest such facility to date, processing 2.14 million gallons per day and designed to recover over 60 pounds of phosphorus, 480 pounds of ammonia and sequester over 6,500 pounds of carbon dioxide per day. For every 1 pound of algae biomass produced, 2.2 pounds of carbon dioxide are sequestered. 

During this 3 hour walking tour, participants will see all four phases of the EcoRecover process: mixing, recovery, separating and harvesting. At each phase participants will have the opportunity to view a detailed process flow and put questions to facility operators. EcoRecover is built using state of the art equipment and leverages a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system (known as AIMS) to manage the relationship between biological and mechanical processes and maximize performance. 

This tour will offer a rare opportunity to see these technologies first-hand. EcoRecover is a breakthrough in biomimicry, which is the practice of learning from and mimicking strategies found in nature to solve human, industrial challenges. 

The tour is only available to registered Summit attendees, and seating will be limited. Light snacks and beverages will be provided. 

Register for the Summit today to get your tour invitation. 

Learn more about CLEARAS here.

Mike Lamont of Heliae Development Elected Board Chair; Dan Brouman of Eurofins Scientific and Jean-Paul Cadoret of Algama Foods Join Board

The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO), the US based non-profit trade organization for the algae and seaweed industries, has a new Chair and two new directors that will bring a wealth of experience and expertise to further advance algae and seaweed solutions. Following a board election, Mike Lamont, Chief Technical Officer of Heliae Development LLC, has been voted as the new Board Chair of the organization. Additionally Dan Brouman, General Manager at Eurofins Scientific, and Jean-Paul Cadoret, CSO of AlgamaFoods, were voted in as new members of the ABO board.

ABO’s board guides the organization in its mission to promote the development of renewable and sustainable products from algae and seaweed, as well as the development of viable commercial markets for both. ABO supports people, companies, and organizations that are responsible for research, development, and commercial activities across the value chain.  ABO also educates the general public, policymakers and industry about the benefits of algae and seaweed in commercial and scientific applications, and is the host of the annual Algae Biomass Summit, the largest gathering of algae and seaweed professionals. 

Mike Lamont and Heliae: Leading the Way in Algae Innovation

As the newly elected Board Chair of ABO, Mike Lamont assumes a pivotal role in driving the organization’s efforts forward. Currently serving as the Chief Technical Officer at Heliae Development LLC, Lamont has been instrumental in advancing the field of microalgae-based biological agriculture. With over 25 years of research and production experience, Lamont brings cross-functional expertise and a dedication to environmental engineering to ABO’s leadership.

Dan Brouman and Eurofins Scientific: Advanced Testing Services for Algae Applications

Dan Brouman, General Manager at Eurofins Scientific, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in food safety and nutritional testing to the ABO board. At Eurofins Scientific, Brouman oversees multiple business units relating to food safety and nutritional testing with a strong focus on phytochemicals and carotenoids. Eurofins is currently offering ABO members deep discounts on a wide range of testing services.

Jean-Paul Cadoret: A Pioneer in Marine Biotechnology

Also joining the ABO board is Dr. Jean-Paul Cadoret, CSO of AlgamaFoods and former President of the European Algae Biomass Association (EABA). With a remarkable career spanning 35 years in research and industry, Cadoret has been at the forefront of innovation in algae and marine biotechnology. 

Several other board members were re-elected to new terms:

• Martin Gross – President/Co-Founder, Gross-Wen Technologies
• David Hazlebeck – CEO/Founder, Global Algae Innovations
• Nagatoshi Ide, PhD – Senior Technical Division Manager, Earthrise Nutritionals LLC
• Daniel J. Levy, PG – Vice President, AECOM

These accomplished individuals bring a diverse range of skills and experiences that will add new momentum to ABO’s efforts. ABO’s full board of directors can be viewed at: https://algaebiomass.org/about/leadership/board-of-directors/

The first plenary sessions that will kick off the 2023 Algae Biomass Summit have been set. This year the main stage programming will include deep dives into the importance of algae and seaweed in our everyday lives, the use of algae in sustainable aviation fuel, applications for algae & seaweed in regenerative agriculture, and startup financing. 

The Algae Biomass Summit will be held in Madison, Wisconsin, Oct 9-11. In addition to these opening sessions the Summit will also feature dozens of technical sessions, career development sessions and networking events. Early bird rates expire August 1st, and the planning committee is still considering abstract submissions for speaking and poster presentations.

The opening session of the 2023 Summit will be: 

Funding for Algae and Seaweed Ventures (optional session) – Sunday, October 8th

Presented by UHY, Inc.

During this pre-Summit session, staff from UHY, Inc. Capital Markets group will provide participants an overview of key considerations in raising external funding to support company capitalization efforts. Participants will hear first-hand lessons learned from algae companies in various stages of capitalization. Participants will also have the opportunity to interact with leading venture capital and public investment funds.

Algae for Sustainable Aviation Fuels – Monday October 9th . (9 – 10:15 AM)

Sustainable aviation fuels are finding unprecedented support in policy, as well as investments in Europe and the United States. During this moderator-led panelist session, participants will hear from algae companies in the SAF space, as well as Department of Energy representatives funding these initiatives.

Algae. Every. Day. – Monday October 9th (11:30 – 12:45 PM)

Algae and seaweed are making inroads into virtually every market and product segment. People are often surprised that some of these products have been available for decades, with exciting new applications making headlines every week. During this moderator-led panelist session, participants will hear from various algae companies on their commercialization and go to market efforts to use algae and seaweeds in foods, soil treatments, wastewater treatments, biomaterials and more. 

Winners of the Algae Prize– Tuesday October 10th (8:45 – 9:45 AM)

During this session, participants will have the opportunity to hear from the finalists for the Algae Foundation’s Algae Prize. This competition is sponsored by  U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) and encourages students to pursue innovative ideas for the development, design, and invention of technologies within the commercial algae value chain. 

Algae in Agriculture – Tuesday October 10th (3:30 -4:45 PM)

The U.S. Congress is debating a new Farm Bill in 2023, which will set federal agriculture policy and funding for the next five years. With a variety of new applications finding customers, it is clear that opportunities for algae and seaweed are being determined now. During this moderator-led panelist session, participants will hear from various algae companies and sustainability consultants in their efforts to use algae in agriculture to improve soil health, reduce carbon emissions and improve overall carbon scoring and sustainability throughout the entire production chain.

Special Breakout: Federal Agency Funding and Research – schedule TBD

Hundreds of millions of dollars have supported algae and seaweed research, thanks to bipartisan support in Congress and through the work of ABO-led coalitions. This dedicated break out session will feature key representatives from the Departments of Energy and Agriculture to discuss their agencies funding priorities for algae based research.

The Algae Biomass Organization is now accepting nominations for the 2023 Algae Industry Awards. These awards recognize the organizations and individuals that have made exceptional efforts and progress in scientific advances and commercial progress related to algae and seaweed. The winners will be announced at the 2023 Algae Biomass Summit in Madison, Wisconsin, Oct 9-11. 

Read about last year’s recipients on the ABO website.

The 2023 Algae Industry Awards will recognize excellence in the following areas:

• Project of the Year Award – To recognize a scientific or commercial project of particular importance for the progress of algae and/or seaweed solutions.
• Product of the Year Award – In recognition of a high impact algae product that made significant contributions to the visibility or progress of the algae industry within the last year.
• Unsung Hero Award – For unheralded dedication and career contributions to the growth of the algae industry.
• Champion of Algae Award – For exceptional contributions to growing the algae industry through professional service.

For consideration, please submit the nomination form no later than 5:00 p.m. ET on July 14, 2023.

Nominees may be contacted for additional information. Nominations are reviewed by the ABO Board of Directors Executive Committee, who select a proposed winner for each award, and award selections are ratified by ABO’s Board of Directors.