Category: Press

Local coalition of business, government and academic leaders bring the largest algae conference in the world to Arizona

PHOENIX, Ariz. (October 18, 2016) The largest algae industry conference in the world comes to the Phoenix area next week as the Algae Biomass Organization hosts the 2016 Algae Biomass Summit.  The Summit will convene at the Renaissance Glendale Phoenix Hotel and Spa, October 23-26. Information about the event can be found at http://www.algaebiomasssummit.org.

The Algae Biomass Summit is a scientific and commercial conference where the latest advances in the new and fast-paced algae industry are put on display. The 2016 event features examples of the latest algae-derived products, a sold out exhibit hall and over 100 speakers. Topic areas to be addressed include everything from algae-based cooking oils and fertilizers, to algae-based carbon utilization, policy support and project finance.

“New algae cultivation technologies are beginning to have enormous impacts in markets where consumers are demanding products that are better for the environment and human health,” said Matt Carr, executive director of the Algae Biomass Organization. “Arizona has been at the forefront of the research and commercialization projects that are proving how algae can be used to make everything from fuel to feed to food. The potential is unlimited and we are excited to bring the latest advances from around the world to Arizona.”

Many key Arizona-based organizations came together to ensure that the 10^th Algae Biomass Summit would come to the Copper State:

• Arizona State University’s Arizona Center for Algae Technology and Innovation (AzCATI)
• Arizona BioIndustry Association
• Arizona Business Incubation Association
• ATP³: the Algae Testbed Public-Private Partnership
• Cactus IFT
• City of Phoenix
• City of Mesa
• The Greater Phoenix Economic Development Council
• Heliae
• University of Arizona

“Arizona is giving rise to a new generation of algae industry workers, conducting cutting-edge research,” said John McGowen, Director of Operations at AzCATI , an algae technology testbed and training center based at Arizona State University’ s Polytechnic campus in Mesa, Arizona that will host a tour for Summit attendees. “The advances we have pioneered are having impacts on the industry worldwide, making Phoenix a natural fit for the Summit.”

“The decision to locate the summit here is the direct result of efforts by Arizona-based business, academic and technology leaders and is an acknowledgment of the leadership role the state has played in advancing algae technology as a sustainable source of fuel, food, feed and other products,” said said Joan Koerber-Walker president and CEO of the Arizona BioIndustry Association

Speakers and attendees at the Algae Biomass Summit will include national and international technologists, producers, scientists, investors, end-user companies, students and policy makers. Over the last decade participants have expounded on algae’s ability to make fuel, utilize CO₂ to make valuable products, provide nutrition to humans and animals, create chemical products, synthesize pharmaceuticals, and provide jobs for millions of Americans, with little to no impact on freshwater supplies or agricultural land (read more at www.allaboutalgae.com).

This year participants will continue to push those and other integral topics such as commercialization of algal production, government and private policies, lifecycle analysis, project funding and the emerging ways that algae can address global challenges.

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. More information can be found at allaboutalgae.com.

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.

Six distinguished members join board with diverse backgrounds, signaling industry’s expansion into new markets

WASHINGTON (August 19, 2016) – The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO), the trade association for the U.S. algae industry, today announced the election of six members to its Board of Directors for the 2016-2018 term. ABO also welcomed Jacques Beaudry-Losique, Senior Vice President of Corporate and Business Development for Algenol as the new board chair, and David Hazlebeck, Founder and CEO of Global Algae Innovations as vice chair. The new and re-elected board members join twelve other distinguished members that are already serving terms on the board.

ABO’s board guides the organization in its mission to educate the general public, policymakers and industry about algae’s great potential to address many of the food, water, health, sustainability and energy security issues facing the world today. Board members support the organization in advocating for policies that can accelerate the development of commercial markets for products made from algae.

ABO’s board is comprised of representatives from multiple sectors of a growing and diverse industry, including academia, nutraceuticals, food, feed, energy, and pharmaceuticals. The newly elected board members are:

• Amha Belay, CTO, Earthrise Nutritionals
• Genet Garamendi, Senior Vice President, TerraVia
• Raffi Mardirosian, Vice President, Joule Unlimited
• Stephen Mayfield, Director, California Center for Algae Biotechnology
• Leslie van der Meulen, General Manager, BioProcess Algae LLC
• Xun Wang, President, Triton Algae Innovations, Ltd.
• Ross Zirkle, Director of Molecular Biotechnology, DSM Nutritional Products

“ABO’s board of directors sets the organization’s agenda and plays an integral role in moving the algae industry forward,” said Matt Carr, Executive Director of the Algae Biomass Organization. “I’m looking forward to working closely with Jacques and David in their new leadership positions, and welcome our newest members that are expanding ABO’s impact to every corner of our industry. I would also like to extend my gratitude to outgoing board chair Martin Sabarsky of Cellana for his efforts to recruit new members and expand ABO’s advocacy work.”

In addition to education and outreach efforts with policymakers, ABO produces and hosts the industry’s premier global conference, the Algae Biomass Summit, which will be held in Phoenix, Ariz. from October 23^rd through October 26^th.

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.

WASHINGTON, DC (December 18, 2015) The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO), the trade association for the algae industry, applauded the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate for including in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 policies that will accelerate the development of algae technologies that can enhance the economic, energy and environmental security of the United States.

The appropriations bill passed by Congress this week includes several components that will accelerate the development of advanced algae technologies that can help address some of the nation’s most pressing challenges. The bill includes an important extension of the second generation biofuel tax credit through the end of 2016, as well as $30 million for algae research and development at the Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office and $10 million for carbon use and reuse at the Department’s Office of Fossil Energy. This support increases the potential funds available for algae research and commercialization by 50 percent over 2015 levels. The legislaton also makes up to $45 million available to the Department of Defense for the construction of biorefineries for the production of advanced drop-in biofuels from algae and other sources.

“Programs at the Departments of Energy and Defense are making vital investments in an algae technology platform that offers an economically sustainable solution to carbon emissions, provides Americans with a new source of domestically produced fuels, and opens the door for an industry that can provide jobs across the nation.” said Matt Carr, executive director of the Algae Biomass Organizations. “Extending the production tax credit for second generation biofuels through 2016 also sends a vital signal to investors that algae-based and other advanced biofuels have the full support of Congress. We thank members of the House and Senate for their leadership and vision.”

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. More information can be found at allaboutalgae.com.

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: algaebiomass.org.

WASHINGTON, DC (October 27, 2015) The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO), the trade association for the algae industry, announced today that the 10^th Annual Algae Biomass Summit will take place October 23-27, 2016 at the Renaissance Glendale Phoenix Hotel & Spa in Phoenix, Arizona. ABO expects more than 600 attendees from countries around the world to come to the event to learn the newest breakthroughs in algae technology, network with industry leaders, and see Arizona’s algae innovation first-hand through regional research and commercial facility tours.

The region has quickly become a hub of algae research and commercial activity. With ABO members Heliae, the US Department of Energy-funded Algae Testbed Public-Private Partnership (ATP³), the Arizona Center for Algae Technology and Innovation (AzCATI), as well as programs at Arizona State University, Phoenix is home to major efforts to commercialize algae-based products in a variety of end markets.

“Arizona is the place to be for algae,” said Matt Carr, executive director of ABO. “At the 2016 Summit we will launch the Arizona Pavilion in the exhibit hall, a dedicated area designed to showcase multiple Arizona-based companies. We’re also partnering with leaders in Arizona’s algae community to develop captivating tours that showcase the region’s innovation in technology.”

Speakers and attendees at the Algae Biomass Summit will include national and international technologists, producers, scientists, investors, and end user companies. During the course of the event, leaders and attendees will discuss issues of critical importance to the emerging algae industry, including the commercial viability of algal production, current government and private initiatives, evolving technologies, processing concepts, life cycle analysis and project finance.

“We are very excited to host hundreds of algae experts and enthusiasts in the heart of Arizona’s dynamic algae industry,” said John McGowen, Director of Operations and Program Management for AzCATI and ATP³. “Arizona is home to groundbreaking research in algae-related sciences, comprehensive industry training programs and impressive commercialization projects, making it the perfect location for the tenth anniversary of the world’s most important algae conference.”

More information about the Algae Biomass 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. More information can be found at allaboutalgae.com.

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: algaebiomass.org. 

Beginning of a new era for sustainable biofuels made from algae 

WASHINGTON, DC (September 14, 2015) The Algae Biomass Organization, the trade association for the algae industry, congratulated Algenol Biotech LLC for its partnership with Protec Fuel Management LLC  to market and distribute algae-derived ethanol from Algenol’s commercial demonstration facility in Fort Myers, Florida. The E15 and E85 fuels would be the first commercial sales of algae-derived ethanol at retail stations for general public consumption.

“Algenol’s partnership is a milestone for the algae industry and for consumers who want domestically-produced, low-carbon fuels made from algae,” said Matt Carr, executive director of the Algae Biomass Organization. “The commercial availability of algae-based fuels is a huge step for our economic and energy security, and we congratulate Algenol and Protec for making it happen.”

The partnership will initially focus on distribution in Florida as Algenol’s 18 million gallons per year commercial plant is developed in 2016 and 2017. More information about the agreement and Algenol’s unique technology is available in the company’s press release.

Algenol is one of the companies leading the algae industry that will be featured at this year’s Algae Biomass Summit in Washington, DC, September 29-October 2. 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. More information can be found at www.allaboutalgae.com.

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.