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Algae and Sustainable Aviation Fuels at the Summit

Featured Panel at the Algae Biomass Summit
Madison, Wisconsin
Monday, October 9 at 9:00am

Discover the latest algae and seaweed opportunities during this special plenary panel at the 2023 Algae Biomass Summit.

Sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) are finding unprecedented support in policy, as well as investments in Europe and the United States. Algae and seaweeds are positioned to become a key source of these fuels, and recent technological advances are driving down production costs and improving carbon reduction potentials in line with the goals of the US Department of Energy’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge.

During this moderator-led panelist session, participants will hear from algae companies in the SAF space, as well as policy and technical experts supporting these initiatives.

Speakers Include

Oliver Fetzer

Chief Executive Officer

Viridos

    Paul Bertels

    Agricultural Leader and Economist

    Farmgate Insights, LLC

      David Hazlebeck

      Chief Executive Officer

      Global Algae Innovations, Inc.

        Dan Levy

        Vice President

        AECOM

          Moderated by:
          Ed Arnold

          Senior Carbon Consultant

          EcoEngineers

            See Summit agenda
            Learn More about the summit

            Congressional Algae Caucus Calls on Farm Bill Leaders to Support Algae Provisions

            In a letter to Farm Bill negotiators Friday, Congressional Algae Caucus Co-chairs Scott Peters of California and Darin LaHood of Illinois urged inclusion of key algae agriculture provisions in any compromise Farm Bill package. The letter is the latest indication of mounting support in Congress for an increased role for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in growing the algae agriculture sector.

            Negotiators have been meeting this month to iron out differences between House and Senate versions of a Farm Bill package that would set farm policy and spending levels for the next five years. (The current Farm Bill is set to expire Sept 30th.) Among the items to be negotiated is the fate of several key policy proposals to ensure existing USDA programs fully support algae agriculture. The proposals were first introduced by a bipartisan group of legislators in H.R. 5373, the Algae Agriculture Act of 2018. One of the proposals (establishing a USDA algae research program) was included in the House version of the bill. Another (eliminating a restriction on algae in a crop assistance program) made the Senate bill. Friday’s letter calls for inclusion of these and two key additional provisions:

            1. Algae Research Initiative – Proposed in the Cornyn-Udall Senate floor amendment SA 3205, but not brought to a vote, the SA 3205 language improves on the Algae Agriculture Research Program language that was included in section 7208 of the House-passed bill (via Dunn Amendment #6 during markup) by providing specific research priorities and necessary authorization. SA 3205 should be included in the conference report.
            2. Crop Assistance for Algae – The absence of an established crop insurance program for algae production has been reported as the single greatest barrier to the establishment of new algae farms and the expansion of existing farms. Section 9 of House bill H.R. 5373, the Algae Agriculture Act, includes two key, no-cost provisions that would begin to pave the way for algae crop insurance. Modeled on provisions included on a bipartisan basis in the 2014 Farm Bill to lay the groundwork for crop insurance for sorghum, H.R. 5373 authorizes a study on development of crop insurance for algae and study adds explicit eligibility for algae under the Noninsured Crop Assistance Program. Section 9 of H.R. 5373 should be included in the conference report.
            3. Elimination of Algae BCAP Exclusion – Algae is inexplicably excluded from Collection, Harvest, Storage and Transportation (CHST) payments under the Title IX Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP). This exclusion is eliminated under section 9110 of the Senate-passed bill. Section 9110 of the Senate-passed bill should be included in the conference report.
            4. Recycled Carbon Fixes – Definitional changes are needed to ensure eligibility of carbon-recycled products made with algae and other biological Carbon Capture and Use (CCU), as outlined in section 8 of the H.R. 5373, the Algae Agriculture Act. The Bennet-Whitehouse Senate floor amendment SA 3342 – based on H.R. 6457, the Carbon Utilization Act – proposed to include these vital, no-cost fixes, but the amendment was not included in the final bill. SA 3342 should be included in the conference report.

            With the September 30 deadline fast approaching, there is now growing discussion of a possible short-term extension of the current Farm Bill to give negotiators additional time to come to agreement, but ABO is continuing to work with algae advocates on Capitol Hill to ensure the best possible outcome for the industry. Be sure to contact your representatives in Congress and tell them to support algae agriculture in the Farm Bill by fighting for these important provisions.

            A New Algae Nutrition Bar Available Today

            If you were at last month’s Algae Biomass Summit you probably remember getting a sneak peek at the Nonbar by Nonfood— an algae-based nutrition bar that’s leading a revolution in how, and what, we eat.

            Today, Nonfood is putting the Nonbar on the market. With their first batch consisting of only 2,500 Nonbars, this ready-to-eat food product boasts algae as its main ingredient. This vegan treat offers a full spectrum of nutrients, as it’s high in protein, low in carbohydrates, has less than a gram of sugar and is full of iron, calcium, vitamins and antioxidants.

            Why the “Non” you ask? Well, according to Los Angeles-based Nonfood, “Every food was once a nonfood. The food we eat today is completely unlike what people ate 200 years ago. Culture changes. Non-foods become foods. We are embracing new food options to build a healthy and sustainable future. Evolve your taste by trying something new and unfamiliar.”

            Visit eatnonfood.com to buy Nonbar today!

            Those of us at ABO will be sure to buy several and share them with friend and family. Be part of the revolution to bring this crop of the future—algae—in to the hands of consumers everywhere.

            The Nonbar is 42% algae and aquatic plant ingredients (far more than virtually any other ready-to-eat product). Its current form includes “spirulina” (arthrospira platensis), lemna (fast growing aquatic plant), and nannochloropsis.

            If you can wait, Nonfood also plans to bring their product to two upcoming events, including the opening of Genre-Nonconforming: The DIS Edutainment Network at De Young Museum in San Francisco on December 3, and again on December 13 at the FOOD-X/SOSV Demo Day for food and tech startups in New York.

            Algae Biomass Organization Presents “Champion of Algae” Awards to Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Congressman Scott Peters (D-CA)

            Awards recognize outstanding commitment to supporing algae industry research and development

            WASHINGTON (February 1, 2017) – The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO), the trade association for the U.S. algae industry, today announced that Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Congressman Scott Peters (D-CA) have each been presented with the Champion of Algae Award, the group’s highest recognition for outstanding service to algae research, technology and product development.

            “Sheldon Whitehouse and Scott Peters have worked tirelessly to advance new algae technologies that will maintain the economic competitiveness of the United States, and bring jobs to rural and urban areas alike.” said Matt Carr, executive director of the Algae Biomass Organization. “We look forward to working with them in the future, and many others on both sides of the aisle that are discovering how an advanced algae industry can bring so many benefits to the United States.” 

            Congressman Peters was recognized for his dedication to spreading the word about algae’s potential for the economcy and the environment, as well as his support for policies that can jumpstart innovation in the sector. He co-found the bipartisan Congressional Algae Caucus in 2013 to provide Members of Congress with a forum to learn about and interact with an industy that was just beginning to harness new technological developments to cultivate algae as a source of food, feed, energy, chemicals and other products. He has been a long-time advocate for algae commercialization and entrepreneurship in his home district near San Diego and nationwide.

            Senator Whitehouse has been a strong supporter of the algae industry in Rhode Island as well as an architect policies that can position algae cultivation to become a national engine for economic growth, while also protecting the environment and public health. Most recently, he introduced the Carbon Capture and Utilization Act of 2016, which would spur technologies, like alage cultivation, that can use CO2 generated during electricity production as a feedstock for valuable products. He has also worked closely with Members from coal and agriculture states to craft policies that can help them use algae technologies to create jobs and other benefits.

            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.

            European Algae Biomass 2016, 20th & 21st April, Berlin, Germany

            EAL6_European_Algae_Biomass_2016

            Accelerating the Commercialisation of the Algal Biomass through Applied Business Strategy

            ACI’s 6th annual European Algae Biomass Conference will once again bring together senior executives from industry and academia to discuss the latest commercial and technical developments, challenges and research breakthroughs throughout the entire algae value chain.


            Key Topics Include:

            • Culture Management & Crop Protection
            • Cultivation Systems: The Limits of Heterotrophy vs Autotrophy
            • Optimisation of the Biomass Extraction – Harvesting Still a Big Issue
            • Algae Research, Development, Demonstration & Deployment Projects
            • European Regulation Regarding Microalgae Addressed to Feed, Food and Nutraceuticals
            • Moving from R&D – How to Attract Investments Necessary to Upscale
            • What Are the Most Successful Algae Products in Europe and Worldwide?
            • Microalgae as a Sustainable Way to Treat Wastewater

            >> View Conference Agenda <<

            Confirmed Speakers Include:

            Margaret McCormick, CEO Matrix Genetics & Director Algae Biomass Organization
            Nuno Coelho, CEO, A4F – AlgaFuel
            John R. Benemann, CEO, MicroBio Engineering
            Eugène J.A. Roebroeck, CEO, LGem
            Silvia Fluch, Managing Director, Partner, COO, Ecoduna Production-GmbH
            Cees Sagt, Principal Scientist Strain Development, DSM Biotechnology Center
            Olivier Lepine, Managing Director, AlgoSource
            Jorge Bauzá, I&D Director, Buggypower
            Syed Isa Syed Alwi, Group CEO, Algaetech Group of Companies
            Andrew Spicer, Director, Algenuity
            Kirsten Heimann, Associate Professor & Project Leader Microalgae Carbon Capture, James Cook University
            and many more…

            Exclusive Dual Site Visit – Tuesday 19th and Thursday 21st April 2016

            During the afternoon of 19th April 2016 a limited number of conference attendees will receive a unique opportunity to visit the Algae Facility at the Technical University of Applied Sciences in Wildau and during the afternoon of 21st April (Conference Day 2) the EUREF Campus site visit will take place before lunch. There is no extra charge to attend the site visits, but spaces are limited and allocated on a first come first served basis. Please register your attendance for the site visit when booking for the conference.

            Who Will Attend?

            Algae cultivation plant owners and operators, leading algae/biomass research institutes, technology providers for cultivation, harvesting, dewatering, drying, oil extraction and processing, plant engineers and constructors, algae end market users, biofuel producers and green energy & biotech investors.

            ABO members are entitled to a 15% discount on registration. For further information or to register your attendance with this exclusive discount please contact Dimitri Pavlyk on + 44 (0)203 141 0627 or dpavlyk@acieu.net quoting EAL6D15