ABO’s expanding member benefits are paying off! Last spring we rolled out an exclusive, discounted laboratory testing program for all ABO Members with our trusted partner Eurofins Craft Technologies. So far that program has saved thousands of dollars for ABO members. Hawaii-based Cyanotech has been able to reduce their contact laboratory testing budget by 20% with the program, more than making up for the cost of membership dues.
“The team at Eurofins has been extremely flexible and their customer service has been fantastic, “ said Jen Johansen, Vice President of Quality, Regulatory & Government Affairs at Cyanotech. “The testing program is valuable for your existing testing needs, and is also valuable for new product development priorities. Eurofins Craft Labs are able to support businesses with test method development to uncover marketable new product attributes.”
The discounts available to members include a wide range of testing services, and the staff at Eurofins are open to custom arrangements. Some of the testing conducted has included those for astaxanthin, fucoxanthin, heavy metals, pesticides, fatty acids, protein content, DHA, amino acids, nutritional labels and more.
Startups looking to increase their testing capacity and larger ABO members hoping to save on their testing budgets can all benefit from the service.
To find out how you can take advantage of ABO member testing discounts reach out to Jon Kallen at jkallen@algaebiomass.org.
Featured Panel at the Algae Biomass Summit Madison, Wisconsin Monday, October 9 at 11:30am
Discover just how wide the algae and seaweed opportunity can be at this special plenary panel at the 2023 Algae Biomass Summit.
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 leading algae companies on their commercialization and go to market strategies for using algae and seaweeds in foods, soil treatments, wastewater treatments, biomaterials and more.
The 1.5 hour tour will appeal to any Algae Biomass Summit attendee with an interest in the latest in laboratory operations. Attendees will be exposed to several techniques and technologies supporting food and dietary supplement testing that are crucial for new product development and commercial production.
Algae and seaweed producers and researchers will be able to view a state of the art sample processing system, stability program management, incubation facilities, testing laboratories for vitamins, nutrients, contaminants and specialty testing as well as technological and automated solutions for testing capabilities.
Laboratory directors will be on hand to answer questions and describe the facility’s operations. Tour participants will also be able to learn more about how ABO members can take advantage of testing discounts offered by Eurofins Craft Technologies.
The tour is only available to registered Summit attendees, and seating will be limited. Sack lunch and beverages will be provided.
Personal protective equipment (lab coats, safety eyeward, etc.) will be provided. No open toed shoes will be permitted on the tour. Clothing that covers legs down to the shoes is preferred, but not required.
Discussions in Washington, DC are underway for a new 5-year authorization of the Farm Bill, a massive piece of legislation that guides U.S. policy and support for agriculture nationwide. This latest version of the legislation presents opportunities for targeted investments and reforms that scale up climate smart agriculture that can mitigate climate and biodiversity challenges. It has great potential to aid algae and seaweed based agriculture.
The Algae Biomass Organization coordinated a number of valuable provisions in the previous Farm Bill, and is closely monitoring negotiations and proposals that can benefit our members this time around. Members involved in growing and harvesting algae and seaweeds, as well as using algae technologies to support agriculture activities in water treatment services, carbon management, bioproduct development and more should all be aware of how the Farm Bill can better position their activities.
Over the past several months, members of Congress have been submitting proposals to be included in the overall Farm Bill. Some of the key initiatives under discussion include:
Healthy Soils Healthy Climate Act
This act introduced for inclusion in the new Farm Bill, known as a marker bill, from Senator Ron Wyden (OR), and Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR) builds on a 2018 Farm Bill pilot program. It would secure funding for research, demonstration and adoption of innovations in farming practices that build crop resilience and enhance soil carbon. It would also provide research funding for the development of technologies and systems for measuring soil organic carbon levels before and after these practices. (data needed).
Opportunities for algae: Those that sell biomass that improves soil health and captures carbon could find opportunities for funding deployment, but only if the final legislation allows for algae and seaweed applications.
Advanced Cutting Edge Agriculture Act
The Advancing Cutting Edge Agriculture Act (ACE Ag), a marker bill from Senator Michael Bennet Marshall (CO) and Congressmen Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) and Randy Feenstra (IA-4) would reauthorize and expand the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority (AgARDA). This program focuses on supporting an advanced research program within USDA, much like the Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E)
Opportunities for algae: This initiative could support $50-$100 million for programs that improve soil health, organic matter and microbial activity, and possibly agricultural emissions reductions. The bill calls for an expanded research focus to include water conservation, greenhouse gas emissions and extreme weather resilience.
COVER Act
This marker led by Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) and Senator Sherrod Brown (OH) would provide farmers who plant cover crops with a savings of $5 per acre off of their crop insurance bills.
Opportunities for algae: This would strengthen the federal crop insurance program, which was amended to include algae in the previous Farm Bill, by offering voluntary financial incentives to farmers that use these risk reducing practices.
Members of these advisory committees will be working with government relations representatives, a number of national coalitions, and directly with Congressional offices to make sure that the full potential of algae and seaweed to support agriculture is recognized in the next Farm Bill. Join the algae agriculture advisory committee! For questions or if you want to join this advisory committee, reach out to ABO’s interim executive director Jon Kallen at jkallen@algaebiomass.org.
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.
