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WASHINGTON, DC (April 30, 2019) The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO), the trade association for the algae industry, today announced that Heliae Development’s Vice President of Operations Mike LaMont has joined the organization’s Board of Directors. Heliae has also become a Gold-level member of ABO.
“Heliae’s groundbreaking technology and product innovation is showing that microalgae can deliver dramatic impacts on markets in need of sustainable and high-performing alternatives,” said Mark Allen, Chair of ABO’s Board of Directors and Vice President of Integrated Carbon Solutions at Accelergy Corporation. “We welcome Heliae’s commitment to ABO’s mission and look forward to working with Mike as we advance the algae industry’s contribution to product innovation and sustainability.”
Heliae Development, LLC, based in Gilbert, Arizona, is an advanced algae production technology company creating sustainable microalgae products and solutions that enhance soil, plant, animal, and human health. The company’s PhycoTerra® soil amendment restores the natural quality of soils by improving water retention, canopy growth, stress tolerance, fruit longevity, and crop yields.
“I’m honored to join the global algae industry’s leaders on ABO’s Board of Directors,” said LaMont. “The continued success of this industry will depend on a coordinated effort to ensure that we have a robust R&D environment, sensible regulation, and smart investments in infrastructure and product development. ABO is the voice for all of these and is directly engaged in policy leadership.”
As Vice President of Operations at Heliae, LaMont oversees joint research and development, and operations for the production and growth of Heliae’s microalgae-based biological agriculture products. Prior to joining Heliae, he worked in the petrochemical industry focusing on smaller footprint, higher-efficiency chemical processing. LaMont has authored multiple publications, holds numerous patents and trade secrets, and is a member of several professional and trade organizations. He holds a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering from Washington State University, and a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from SD School of Mines & Technology.
LaMont joins ABO’s board as dozens of new products made possible by commercial algae production are entering consumer and industrial markets. New algae technologies have allowed for innovations in sustainable animal protein alternatives, cooking oils, nutritional supplements, cosmetics and skin care, aquaculture and animal feeds, soil amendments, fertilizers, clothing and footwear, sports equipment, water treatment, biofuels and much more. The ability for algae to grow rapidly, ease pressures on water and land use, and absorb millions of tons of industrial carbon dioxide contribute to improving the sustainability of a wide diversity of products and services.
The growth in multiple markets has helped ABO coordinate a dramatic increase in support for this new industry. Recent legislation has improved federal support for algae agriculture, and new investments are being made in production and new product development.
Dozens of these new products and other industry milestones will be featured at ABO’s annual Algae Biomass Summit, being held in Orlando, Florida, September 16-19, 2019.
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.
