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ABO is partnering with the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) to formulate a one day algae track at the BIO World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology, July 16-19, 2018, in Philadelphia, PA.  The BIO World Congress is the premier industrial biotech event of the year, and we are honored to help establish this new platform for the important work of ABO members. Please share your algae transformation story this year in Philadelphia! 

Hosted by the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, this event provides you the opportunity to present and network with business executives, investors, industry leaders, government officials, and academic researchers within the industrial biotechnology space. BIO’s conference has added a brand-new program track in algae production technologies, which explores using algae as a production organism to make bioproducts, renewable chemicals, food ingredients and biofuel. BIO is now accepting proposal submissions for panel sessions, company and technical presentations, GreenTech Investor Sessions and poster presentations. Learn more about the 2018 program tracks or submit your proposal here.

The deadline to submit is February 1st!  Visit www.bio.org/worldcongress for more information and updates about the event.

Recent legislation in California has added $135 million for the reduction of toxic and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the agricultural sector. Will the state look to algae cultivation as one of the solutions?

Growing and harvesting algae is a type of agriculture that can remove vast amounts of greenhouse gases, either directly from the atmosphere as algae grow, or through carbon utilization methods that capture carbon-containing gases emitted at power plants or elsewhere. Furthermore, algae-based products and services may be able to play a significant role in farm operations, either as a renewable fuel, carbon-reducing fertilizer, or animal feed.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) staff are accepting input now on the development of the Funding Agricultural Replacement Measures for Emission Reductions (FARMER) Program Guidelines. These guidelines will shape how reduction funding is allocated, and it will be important for CARB to understand the role algae can play.

ABO members that want to contribute to the process should participate in CARB’s January 30 webinar. More information available here.

 

Triton Algae Innovations is one of several ABO members that are bringing the full potential of algae into many of the foods we eat. They recently received a certification that will make it easier for their algae ingredients to make it to the table.

Algae are incredible sources of Omega-3 oils, vitamins, minerals and especially protein. They can also be grown much more sustainably than any other crop, without the requirements of fertile soils, freshwater or many other inputs required of more traditional crops.

This month Triton announced that after a rigorous evaluation its wild-type algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (c. reinhardtii) has achieved Independent Conclusion of GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) status. The status gives Triton’s product a science-based underpinning for use in foods and beverages, such as nutrition bars, cereals, yogurts, juices, energy drinks and more.

Triton has also developed a proprietary process in which this same algae is used to express a variety of different proteins which occur naturally in the breast milk of all mammals, including humans. To date, there has been no commercially viable source of these proteins, which can come with much-needed health benefits, including reduced occurrences of intestinal distress and fever, as well as positive impacts on cognitive development.

It’s a great milestone for Triton, and for a global food industry that is looking for more viable alternatives to existing protein sources, or for healthy products that can meet a growing demand for vegan and vegetarian foods.

Learn more at Triton Algae Innovations

The F3-Future of Fish Feed is currently seeking competitors to join a global race to innovate cost-competitive alternatives to fish oil. The F3 Fish Oil Challenge will award $100,000+ to the company or team that makes and sells the most fish-free “fish oil” to aquaculture operators or feed manufacturers. The global fish oil market is projected to reach over $4 billion by 2021, and the rapidly expanding global aquaculture industry is the greatest source of demand for these essential fatty acids, known as omega-3s and 6. Demand for fish oil as an ingredient in dietary supplements and pet food is also on the rise. Fish oil replacements will help take pressure off dwindling wild fish populations to supply these essential nutrients for farm-raised fish while at the same time remove a bottleneck to growth in the aquaculture industry.

Algae-based feeds can make a difference! Algae can be grown without impacts on natural fish stocks, and their high omega-3 content can make them a sustainable alternative to fish oil.

To learn more and register to compete, visit: www.f3challenge.org.

Is your holiday party schedule full? Do you need some good fodder for small talk with family, friends and coworkers? ABO’s annual list of holiday party talking points is here. Keep these handy and you’ll always be able to focus the conversion onto algae.

Everybody can get behind algae

Algae is the crop of the future, and it has so many applications that supporting this technology isn’t a partisan issue. There’s even a Congressional Algae Caucus of Democrats and Republicans working together to advance algae’s potential as a solution to many of the food, economic, and environmental challenges facing the world today. 

Who’s doing the dishes? Water down the drain might be headed for treatment with algae

One of the fastest growing applications for algae is in wastewater treatment, and it’s proving to be a win-win. At the Algae Biomass Summit this year a tour showed off an advanced system in Salt Lake City built by CLEARAS Water Recovery. The plant is going to grow algae as part of the treatment process, removing phosphorus or other nutrients, and even capturing greenhouse gases. It’s one example among hundreds of others in the US and the world where algae is cleaning our water.

Is there algae on the menu?

Advanced algae cultivation and harvesting technologies are just beginning to have an impact in what we eat.

One trailblazing company recently put an algae-based nutrition bar on the market. Others are creating algae cooking oils, mayo, omega-3 nutritional ingredients and more!

Working off the extra pounds gained during the holidays? Strap on a pair of algae shoes, or grab an algae surfboard! 

ABO member Algix worked with their partners at Vivo Barefoot to deliver the first algae-based shoes, perfect for working out. And at UC-San Diego the first algae surfboards are being made. Get yours at the Algae Foundation’s online auction underway right now!

Kick back with our algae cocktail of 2018: The algae colada!

It may be cold outside but we can still reminisce about warm weather. Grab your favorite algae smoothie and mix up our take on the pina colada.

Ingredients:
3 oz (3 parts) prepared juice or smoothie with algae (we like Odwalla’s “Original Superfood”)
1 oz (one part) White rum
1 oz (one part) Coconut cream

Preparation: Mix with crushed ice until smooth. Pour into chilled glass, garnish and serve.

Happy Holidays from the team at the Algae Biomass Organization!