Author: Carrie Cox

Two of our members have posted new job openings to the ABO job board this month! Don’t miss out on these great opportunities.

Earthrise is looking for a Research Scientist to join their team in Calipatria, CA. This person will be responsible for independently planning and conducting experiments relevant to research and development of microalgae and microalgae-based products; analyzing and interpreting the results and arriving at conclusions that may benefit the business; and keeping accurate records of work undertaken, among other tasks.

The Department of Chemistry at the University of Kentucky is searching for an Assistant Professor of Biological Chemistry. This is a tenure-track position at the Assistant Professor level with an anticipated start date of August 2016. The successful candidate should have a strong background in biochemistry and molecular biology and will have earned a Ph.D. in one of these or a closely related subject. Specific areas of interest include the control and engineering of cellular systems (e.g., in microalgae, cyanobacteria and/or bacteria) for the production of high value chemicals such as carotenoids, enhanced lipid or protein content, etc.

Check out the job board for more information on position requirements and application guidelines.

Developing medicine that only attacks tumor cells and leaves the rest of the body alone is one of the biggest challenges in cancer drug therapy. Such targeted chemotherapy helps to avoid some of the devastating side-effects associated with typical chemo treatment.

That’s why it’s so exciting that developments have been made to genetically engineer tiny algae to kill up to 90 percent of cancer cells while leaving healthy ones unharmed. Experiments in the lab have been shown to effectively treat tumors in mice without doing damage to the rest of the body.

Could this be the next step towards conquering cancer? Read the full article here.

The algae industry is showing stunning flexibility and potential as it pushes into health foods, beauty and personal care products, animal feed and soil amendments, according to a recent Bloomberg New Energy Finance report.

The enormous potential revenue for algae-based fuel has traditionally attracted a lot of excitement in the sector. Algae present a unique opportunity to synthesize fuel without diverting food crops. However, with the recent decrease in petroleum prices, algae businesses are pivoting to auxiliary markets, which have room to grow.

Algae can be a low-cost, vegan source of protein, replace fats and oils usually found in dairy, and be turned into feed for fish and livestock. According to the Bloomberg report, algal proteins and other supplements could tap a market worth $20 billion, food oils worth $1 billion in the short run, and feed up to a combined $379 billion in years to come. Times of plenty may be just around the corner.

A few companies, notably Solazyme, are successfully entering the beauty and personal care sector with premium-level products. High-echelon products account for over a fourth of the $80 billion beauty market, with over one-third of potential sales in North America.

By diversifying product lines and widening R&D, the algae industry can thrive in volatile markets.

 

 

Curry, C., Cadavid, A. Z., Zindler, E. (2015) Algae biofuel and biochemical markets: where is the money? Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

Algae leaders have had a busy month, from Solazyme’s algae-based cooking oil to drones being used in the harvest of algae. Find this month’s top algae articles below.

Member News

Solazyme expands aglae oil JV with Bunge to develop ‘breakthrough’ products for food and animal nutrition
Food Navigator USA—Solazyme

Duke scientists making algae biofuel more viable
Duke Chronicle—Marine Algae Industrialization Consortium

UND’s Energy & Environmental Research Center developing eco-friendly drilling fluids
Prairie Business Magazine—Accelergy

Solazyme Inc: Shifting Partnerships Show Improved Focus
Motely Fool—Solazyme

US team weighing up algae strains for use in feed and fuel production
Feed Navigator—Cellana

The Power of Algae: Innovative Fuel
DW—Subitec

Other Industry News

Burgeoning Uses of Genetically Engineer Algae to Update Guidelines
Bloomberg Bureau of National Affairs

Scientists develop green technology from harmful algal blooms
Hydrogen Fuel News

Floating Drone Harvests Algae for Fuel
Discovery News

More Oil Companies Could Join Exxon Mobil as Focus of Climate Investigations
New York Times

As we know, the earth is under increasing pressure to perform, with climate change and the demands of an ever-growing population putting a stranglehold on natural resources. And it’s nature itself that might hold some solutions to these issues, if we know where to look.

The latest experiment at Symbiosis Center Denmark is all about exploring the industrial potential of green algae, specifically, its ability to feed on CO2 and then convert it into protein.

The algae plant experiments are also about purifying waste water from the nearby Novozymes biotech industry, which produces enzymes that, for instance, are used in the textile or food industries. The algae use up CO2 in combination with the light and produce valuable biomass in the process, which can be used in the manufacture of high-value products. For instance, some algae have a high content of Omega 3 fatty acids, similar to the food that fish eat in the wild. It follows, therefore, that feeding fish with these algae give the fish a better taste when cooked.

Just as importantly is the business feasibility of this science. Calculations show that a production price of 400 Danish kroner per kilo (about $26.07 per pound) can make it a profitable business.

To read the full article, click here.