Author: Carrie Cox

BRDI Funding Opportunity

The Department of Agriculture and the Department of Energy have teamed up to offer $9 million in funding through the Biomass Research and Development Initiative (BRDI). The initiative is intended to strengthen the nation’s energy independence by supporting the development of bioenergy feedstocks, biofuels and biobased products. The winning projects, in turn, will ideally help to diversify the nation’s energy portfolio and to develop ‘economically and environmentally sustainable sources of renewable biomass.’

A number of ABO members will want to review this opportunity. The target technical areas are as follows:

  • Feedstocks development
  • Biofuels and biobased products development
  • Biofuels development analysis

For more details and for the full request for applications, visit the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Exchange website. Concept papers are due on July 7th and full applications are due by September 22nd.

2017 Algae Biomass Summit Agenda Posted

The Algae Biomass Organization has posted the preliminary agenda for the 2017 Algae Biomass Summit! Plenary topics have been determined, tracks have been set and speakers have been selected for the world’s largest algae conference, to be held in Salt Lake City, October 29 – November 1.  

Register today for the Summit to network with the top scientists and companies leading a wave of innovation in algae technology and product development.&nbsp

Early bird rates expire August 1st!

Topics include: algae in agriculture, food & nutrition, carbon & water management, advanced materials, energy, and more. 

View the agenda here.

Algae Biomass Organization Announces Preliminary Agenda for 11th Annual Algae Biomass Summit in Salt Lake City, UT

Event to showcase innovation across algae industry as more products enter dozens of markets

SALT LAKE CITY (June 15, 2017) The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO), the trade association for the algae industry, today announced the preliminary agenda for the 11th Annual Algae Biomass Summit, being held in Salt Lake City, Utah, October 29-November 1, 2017. The sessions unveiled on the agenda promise a wide range of discussions about the impact that the latest advances in algae commercialization and research are having on agriculture, food and nutrition markets, carbon and water management, advanced materials, energy and more. Registration and agenda details can be viewed at: http://www.algaebiomasssummit.org.

Utah has become a unique focus for innovative algae research and commercial opportunities, making Salt Lake City an ideal location for the world’s largest algae conference. Advanced research on algae cultivation and harvesting techniques are underway at Utah universities and labs, and several companies in Utah are using algae in everything from wastewater treatment, to consumer products and more.

 “We’re looking forward to bringing the Algae Biomass Summit to Salt Lake City to showcase how this new form of agriculture can impact dozens of markets,” said Matt Carr, executive director of ABO. “Utah is the perfect place to host this year’s Algae Biomass Summit. It is home to a growing wave of innovation in nutrient management, nutraceuticals and natural products, and other technologies in human, animal and planetary health. This year’s Summit will bring together top scientists and innovative companies to discuss how the latest advances in algae are creating new market opportunities, addressing sustainability challenges, and driving new investments in rural and urban economies alike.”

The 2017 Summit comes as a number of ABO member companies have accelerated the pace of product commercialization in the past year, introducing new and more sustainable aquaculture feeds, nutritional supplements, algae-derived plastics and foams, food ingredients, and more.

In addition to plenary sessions featuring leading keynotes and panels on the most pressing topics facing the industry, the conference will feature dozens of presentations in breakout sessions organized into four tracks: Biology, Engineering & Analysis, Commercialization and a new Industry Focus track on major trends the industry. More than 100 posters will be on display showcasing groundbreaking new technologies and research. More information about the Summit can be found at www.algaebiomasssummit.org.

Products made from algae are the natural solution to the energy, food, economic and climate challenges facing the world today. This tiny but powerful organism has the ability to simultaneously put fuels in vehicles, reuse CO2, provide nutrition for animals and people, and create jobs for millions of Americans.

About the Algae Biomass Organization


The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO) is a 501 c(6) non-profit whose mission is to promote the development of viable commercial markets for renewable and sustainable commodities derived from algae. Its membership is comprised of people, companies and organizations across the value chain. More information about ABO, including its leadership, membership, costs, benefits and members and their affiliations, is available at the website: www.algaebiomass.org

CLEARAS Water Recovery’s System Installed at Utah Water Treatment Plant

ABO member CLEARAS Water Recovery recently announced that the South Davis Sewer District just outside Salt Lake City will soon be using the company’s advanced algae-based nutrient recovery technology at a 4,000,000 gallon per day water treatment plant.

CLEARAS joins ABO member Qualitas Health, alongside several aquaculture leaders, that have made major announcements in the past month indicating algae-based technologies are establishing a foothold in several markets.

CLEARAS’ Advanced Biological Nutrient Recovery (ABNR™) system harnesses algae and other microorganisms to continuously treat water in a variety of settings. The process offers a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to recover excess phosphorus, nitrogen and other high-profile contaminants, while also capturing carbon dioxide. The system is easily added to the existing treatment plant, and its modular design makes scaling a simple matter of adding more units.  

“ABNR has the potential to change the way we think about wastewater treatment and we are excited to have partnered with CLEARAS to advance the next generation of wastewater treatment and resource recovery.” said Dal Wayment, General Manager of the South Davis Sewer District. 

ABO congratulates CLEARAS, and their partners at the South Davis Sewer District for taking this forward-looking step. We look forward to more progress!

Want a first-hand look at this innovative project? The facility will be featured in tours available to attendees of the 2017 Algae Biomass Summit, being held in Salt Lake City, October 29-November 1.

More information is available in this press release.

Qualitas Health Announces New Production Partnership to Triple Algae Production

ABO member Qualitas Health, the Texas-based company revolutionizing nutrition products by unleashing the potential of algae, announced a long term, strategic partnership with commercial crop producer Green Stream Farms to triple its algae production. With this partnership, Qualitas achieves enough critical mass to become a sustainable omega-3 alternative, worldwide, at commercial scale.

Matt Carr, ABO’s executive director commented: “Qualitas and Green Stream Farms deserve congratulations for a partnership that shows how algae will become an agricultural product with enormous potential. This partnership adds to a growing list of new commercial algae operations that are harnessing advanced technologies to address challenges in food, feed, health, agriculture, energy and the environment. They are helping to ensure a bright future for algae-based products.” 

Read Qualitas’ press release here.

Also great coverage by FastCompany here.