Category: Blog

The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO), the US based non-profit trade organization for the algae industry, today announced the election of their officers for their Board of Directors for the 2021-2022 term, as well as the Board of Directors members elected for the 2021-2023 term. The group includes both new and existing (re-elected) members who will join current members of the Board of Directors. ABO’s board is comprised of representatives from multiple sectors of the industry.

ABO’s board guides the organization in its mission to promote algae, renewable and sustainable products from algae, and the development of viable commercial markets for both. ABO provides end-to-end connection for the industry, supporting people, companies, and organizations, as well as research, development, and commercial activities across the value chain.  ABO also educates the general public, policymakers and industry about the benefits of algae.

The newly elected board officers are:

• Chair: Jen Johansen (pictured)– Vice President of Quality, Regulatory & Government Affairs, Cyanotech Corporation
• Vice Chair: Martin Gross – President/Co-Founder, Gross-Wen Technologies
• Treasurer/Secretary: Thomas Byrne – Tax Manager, CarlsonSV

Newly appointed board member:

• Lulu Mauro, Sr. Regulatory Manager, Corbion

The re-elected board members are:

• Martin Gross, President/Co-Founder, Gross-Wen Technologies
• David Hazlebeck, CEO/Founder, Global Algae Innovations
• Nagatoshi Ide, Senior Technical Division Manager, Earthrise Nutritionals LLC
• Mike LaMont, Vice President of Operations, Heliae Development LLC
• Dan Levy, Vice President, AECOM
• Jaakko Nauha Head of Algae Initiative in the New Business Platform, Neste

Put yourself at the forefront of the algae industry, where algae products, services, and research meet the challenges of our planet’s most pressing issues today.

The virtual 2021 Algae Biomass Summit is the best place to make valuable connections with key decision makers and influential policy leaders within the algae industry and scientific community this fall. Our new Partnership Program is a unique opportunity for those leaders that want to engage with the algae industry on a deeper level.

Why become a Summit partner?

• Reach hard to find real world buyers in the various algae industries, food & feed, carbon capture, sustainability, wastewater, energy, education & academics, climate and more – We gather up industry leaders from around the world!
• Last year’s sponsors had a combined 115,000 sponsor impressions, leads, webpage views, 1:1 interactions and virtual meetups — Strong exposure to an influential audience.
• NOW you can deliver content from the main stage at the Algae Biomass Summit or in our engaging breakout sessions — Make your case on the industry’s biggest stage!
• Due to the additional involvement, partnership opportunities are limited and they’re filling up fast! — You don’t want to miss out!
• Partnership promotion starts soon – almost 4 months of exposure for your company to our global audience! — We really do spread the word!

Take a look at the current list of sponsors below, and sign up to join them today!

The incredible economic and environmental advantages of farming shellfish and seaweed is gaining attention as the world seeks solutions to climate change, food production, and greener inputs for everything from clothes and plastics to fuel. Regenerative ocean farming is an attractive business opportunity, but there are few resources that offer individuals a pathway to building a career in this promising industry of the future. That’s what GreenWave, one of ABO’s newest members, was founded for. 

The Connecticut-based non-profit is on a mission to catalyze a regenerative ocean farming industry made up of small farms growing restorative crops such as seaweed and shellfish. Their goal is to train and support 10,000 regenerative ocean farmers in the next 10 years. To get there, GreenWave provides a mix of high- and low-touch training opportunities and resources for aspiring farmers that want to learn regenerative ocean farming techniques, secure a lease, permits, and equipment, and access the market opportunities that can get revenues flowing. 

GreenWave has trained and supported more than 730 farmers and hatchery technicians throughout New England, California, New York, the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, and beyond. Thousands more are on their waitlist. Regenerative ocean farming is a model that focuses on the power of small to medium scale independent farmers to create an industry that can provide thousands of jobs as well as products that can enhance global sustainability. 

“ABO’s focus on building markets and technologies for algae and macroalgae, such as kelp, dovetails perfectly with the business development and mentoring goals of GreenWave,” said Rebecca White, ABO’s executive director. “We are proud to partner with their project and look forward to joining forces to build the ocean farming industry the world needs.”

The potential for the seaweed industry is enormous. One recent study estimates the industry will grow to $92 billion by 2025 across a diverse range of markets including food, fertilizer, animal feed, and bioplastics. 

Moreover, GreenWave’s model has lowered the barriers to entry to a business that already has economic and environmental advantages. Bivalves and seaweed farming requires zero inputs (no freshwater, fertilizer, feed, or land), can improve water quality, sequester carbon, and rebuild reef ecosystems. And GreenWave estimates that a mature 20-acre regenerative ocean farm can net more than $100,000 annually. 

In addition to hands-on training, GreenWave has introduced a number of tools to help those interested in becoming ocean farmers, including an online seed-to-sale Regenerative Ocean Farming Toolkit, region-specific workshops, internships and participation in a growing farmer network. 

“We are deeply excited to join ABO’s network as we scale our tools that can help people build their own ocean farming businesses,” said BrenSmith, GreenWave’s Co-Executive Director and Co-Founder.

GreenWave joined ABO as a Bronze-level member, our newest membership category built specifically for early stage startups and organizations. Welcome GreenWave!

Learn more about GreenWave here: https://www.greenwave.org/

ABO has introduced a new Bronze membership category for early stage algae ventures that are bringing new technologies, products or processes into the market. 

The new category has been designed to help algae entrepreneurs take advantage of more opportunities as economic growth recovers in the wake of the pandemic, as well as an increasing demand for cutting-edge innovations that can address global challenges.

A membership designed for the unique challenges faced by startups

As any founder knows, resources have to be carefully allocated in the early days of a company’s life, but it is also critical to take advantage of the networks, expertise and influence that can be found in places like an industry’s trade organization, such as the Algae Biomass Organization. 

To better accommodate the unique needs of startups, ABO’s bronze member category comes with lower fees, and is exclusive to new ventures that are looking to engage with the broader algae community as a way to accelerate their growth. 

The new membership is designed to be an entry into the community of ABO, and there are some special requirements to qualify. Companies must be less than 5 years old, or with fewer than 5 years of revenue. After two years at the bronze level, members will be expected to upgrade to one of our higher tiers.  

The bronze membership category is an excellent option for cutting-edge innovators that need more from ABO than what can be found in our individual memberships. The expanded benefits include additional resources to:

• Discover the latest technologies and applications.
• Learn how to access the wide range of markets seeking algae applications: food, feed, bioplastics, pharmaceuticals, fuel, soil health, water treatment and more. 
• New talent and workforce development programs.
• Learn about federal funding opportunities, and work with other members to build compelling applications.
• Enjoy reciprocal member benefits with ABO’s global partners, such as the European Algae Biomass Association. 
• Be recognized on ABO’s websites, newsletters, social media and at ABO events as being part of a worldwide collaboration that is building a multi-billion dollar industry based on advanced algae cultivation.

Creating a rising tide of early stage algae ventures

ABO’s first bronze members include Arizona Algae Products, Algix, Greenwave, and Seagrove Kelp Company. All of these companies have the potential to dispute markets with new algae applications, and they all now have the full weight of the industry’s leading trade organization behind them. 

“Algae startups are looking at a period of incredible opportunity in the funding environment, market potential and regulatory support,” said Rebecca White, executive director of the Algae Biomass Organization. “We developed the bronze membership category so these entrepreneurs can join voices, build collaborations and be part of a rising tide that lifts all boats. Together we can be ready for the exciting times ahead.”

More information about ABO’s Bronze Membership category, and others can be found here.

To reach out about becoming a member please contact ABO today!

This month ABO welcomes as a silver-level member Bioréa, a European company that provides advanced technology and services to algae producers, based on their patented airlift fermentation technology, as well as CMO partner services for those in need of outsourced production. 

“Bioréa’s cutting edge technology and approach to project development has global applications for those operating in the algae industry,” said Rebecca White, ABO’s executive director. “We are glad to welcome them as our newest member.”

Based in Lamballe, France, Bioréa is a subsidiary of one of the largest farming and food cooperatives in the country, Agrial group. The company specializes in cultivating microorganisms such as chlorella algae for applications in nutrition, health, cosmetics, pet food, animal feed and aquaculture. 

Bioréa’s engineers and scientists are also biomass project developers, handling liquid and dry applications, from research to production. Their services include R&D with dedicated benchtop bioreactors, pilot halls for scale-up, and continuous industrial fermentation for commercial applications. 

Bioréa’s proprietary benchtop bioreactor “CiYOU – Cultivate It Yourself” is capable of autotrophic, heterotrophic or mixotrophic production, is fully autoclavable and easy to control.

The company’s customers include researchers, startups, and large industrial firms with global presences in markets for food, health, personal care and more.

Their new factory has received international standards certification, including ISO 22000 FSSC and GMP+

Bioréa joins a number of ABO members that are offering technology and technical expertise to algae producers, processors and harvesters around the world. 

Learn more about Bioréa here: https://www.biorea.fr/en