Algae Related Information
Due to algae’s photosynthetic nature and diversity, algae-related technologies have the potential to reduce both the current climate and global food crises. As a result, there are many companies are now developing and scaling up algae-related technologies. For example, there are companies now utilizing algae to sequester carbon, create efficient fertilizers, produce nutritionally-packed food products, create bio-degradable bioplastics and reduce methane gases exuded from cow stomachs. Given below are links to articles, market growth estimates, companies, investors and associations related to algae:
a) Why the world needs more algae, not less by DW Planet A, Jul. 2, 2021
b) How fast-growing algae could enhance growth of food crops by Princeton University, May 19, 2022
A new study provides a framework to boost crop growth by incorporating a strategy adopted from a fast-growing species of green algae. The algae, known as Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, contain an organelle called the pyrenoid that speeds up the conversion of carbon, which the algae absorb from the air, into a form that the organisms can use for growth
c) The Use of Algae in Fish Feeds as Alternatives to Fishmeal by Lucy Towers, Nov. 25, 2013
d) Algae Farm Cost Model: Considerations for Photobioreactors by Y. Zhu, D.B. Anderson, S.B. Jones, Oct. 2018
e) Potential of microalgae as a sustainable feed ingredient for aquaculture, by Nagappan et al., Nov. 20, 2021
f) Making algae can get expensive. Innovations aim to bring costs down, by Bonnie Waycott, Feb. 17, 2020
The Responsible Seafood Advocate supports the Global Seafood Alliance’s (GSA) mission to advance responsible seafood practices through education, advocacy and third-party assurances
g) Fish, Algae, and Oysters: The Winning Trio in Aquaculture, by E.R. D’Orbcastel et al., Nov. 28, 2019
h) Integrating Technologies to Produce Agricultural Products and Reliable Electricity by iClimateTech
A website demonstrating how algae can be combined with different systems such as energy and agriculture to create substantial benefits
i) Producing Algae and Zooplankton as an Organic Fish Feed by Bioponica, Feb. 10, 2019
Developed the ‘nutricycling’ process which involves the use of algae in aquaponic and hydroponic systems to create a synergized approach and form NPK fertilizers in soil-less beds and nutritional fish food
j) Feeding Plankton and Zooplankton to Tilapia and Crawfish. Homegrown Fish Food by Bioponica, Sep. 18, 2010
Algae and zooplankton are harvested and poured into the fish tank. The waste from the fish contains nutrients that aquaponically feed the plants. But also the algae is rich in nutrients and when the water enters the bed it acts like a river delta, fertilizing the soil with nitrogen-rich nutrients, plus ammonia. The worms play a vital role, in facilitating the bioconversion of solid matter. Bacteria play a vital role, in converting liquid ammonia to nitrate. Algae build the entire system with a daily dose of nitrogen, phosphorus, trace elements and minerals.
k) Blue Growth Potential to Mitigate Climate Change through Seaweed Offsetting by Halley E. Froehlich et al., Sept. 23, 2019
2) Algae Market Size and Expected Growth Estimates:
a) AlliedMarket Stevers: The global spirulina market was valued at $393.6 million in 2019, and is projected to reach $897.61 million by 2027 Apr. 2021
Registering a CAGR of 10.5% from 2020 to 2027
b) Meticulous Market Research: Spirulina Market to Reach $730.3 Million by 2028 Jun. 02, 2021
c) Frontiersin.org: Current Status of the Algae Production Industry in Europe: An Emerging Sector of the Blue Bioeconomy, Jan. 27, 2021
d) Bloomberg: Algae Market Potentially Worth $320 Billion Draws Honda, Eneos, Jan 24, 2022
e) ClimateSAN: Growing Investments in the Algae Industry Oct. 20, 2022
f) Vantage Market Research: Outlook on the $36 Bn Algae Market is Expected to Grow at a CAGR of over 10.5% During 2022-2028, July 08, 2022
g) Bloomberg: Algae Market Potentially Worth $320 Billion Draws Honda, Eneos, Jan 24, 2022
3) Algae-Related Technology Companies:
a) Brilliant Planet – Facility operating in Morocco:
b) Pond Tech, Markham, Ontario
Developed a bioreactor for algae growth which uses LEDs to grow 24 hours a day
c) Algae Capital, Naaldwijk, Netherlands
Grows algae in tubes within a greenhouse
d) Larssen Greenhouse Consulting Ltd, Burlington, ON
Builds omega algae greenhouses systems
e) Global Algae Innovations, Lihue, Hawaii
Grows algae in open ponds, and recently won the X-Prize
f) Bioponica, Atlanta, GA
Grows algae for fish consumption with the end goal of improving the quality of fertilizer used from fish waste
g) Industrial Plankton, Victoria, BC
Creates live algae culture equipment that automatically self-cleans for secure on-site production
h) Algae Companies and Other Organizations attending the 2022 ALGAE BIOMASS SUMMIT
i) MicroBio Engineering, San Luis Obispo, CA
Designs and constructs small to large-scale algae ponds for research, wastewater reclamation, and biofuel production
4) Webpage about session hosted by Paul Stevers about Investing in algae industry at the Algae Biomass Summit in October 2022: Growing Investments in the Algae Industry.
5) Investors who recently invested in algae companies:
a) InvestEco, Toronto, ON
Invests in North American companies which promote health and sustainability in the food & agricultural sector
b) Next Level Ventures, Des Moines, IA
Invests in fintech and creative technologies in a variety of industries
c) SOSV. Princeton, NJ
Fund visionary, deep tech founders who aim to deliver a radically beneficial impact on human and planetary health
d) Starlight Ventures, Miami, FL
Invest early in the brightest entrepreneurs using science and technology breakthroughs to achieve progress at scale
e) Demeter, Paris, France
Offers venture capital and private equity to support the ecological transition
f) Collaborative Fund, New York, NY
Is a leading source of capital for entrepreneurs pushing the world forward
g) Third Nature, London, GB
Supports entrepreneurs at each stage of growth to maximize impact through the transformation of markets
h) Pegasus Tech Ventures, San Jose, CA
They help startups partner with corporations.
i) Grantham
Founded by Jeremy Grantham has invested in Brilliant Planet
j) Lowercarbon Capital, Jackson, WY
Founded by Chris Sacca has invested in Running Tide
k) Bezos Earth Fund, Washington, DC
Founded by Jeff Bezos has provided funding for seaweed farming to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)
6) Some Experts in the Algae Industry:
a) Dr. Rebecca White
Executive Director, Algae Biomass Organization who is hosting the 2022 ALGAE BIOMASS SUMMIT on October 3-28, 2022
b) Dr. Ira “Ike” Levine
From the University of Southern Maine manages the Aglae Education Foundation
c) Charles Greene
Professor of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at Cornell University and member of the Marine Algae Industrialization Consortium (MAGIC)
d) Dr. Amha Belay
Founder and CEO of Algae4All, LLC, a consulting company specializing in algae production, education and quality assurance
e) Dr. Stephen Mayfield
Distinguished Professor of Biology at UCSD and the Director of the California Center for Algae Biotechnology
7) Algae industry associations and initiatives
b) Algae for Food + Feed: The Global Initiative By the Future of Algae Group
d) European Algae Biomass Association
e) Algae Research Supply (an initiative founded by Matthew Huber in Carlsbad, CA to provide educational kits on Algae to children)
8) Organizations with technologies complementary to the algae industry
a) Nelson + Pade -A supplier of aquaponic systems with indoor plant and fish farms that can utilize algae for fish food.
b) Demonstration Centre for Carbon Tech including Algae-related Innovations: Alberta Carbon Conversion Technology Centre.
c) High Plains Biochar, Laramie, WY
Creates the CO2 needed for algae production as well as Biochar
9) Example articles about the food crisis and algae
a) World Food Program: A global food crisis – 2022: a year of unprecedented hunger
As many as 828 million people go to bed hungry every night, and the number of those facing acute food insecurity has soared – from 135 million to 345 million – since 2019. A total of 50 million people in 45 countries are teetering on the edge of famine.
b) BBC: Microalgae is rich in protein, amino acids, fatty acids, and vitamins. Should we all be eating it?
c) Global Algae: Large-scale algae farming with Global Algae Innovations’ suite of advanced technologies.
(The founder of global Algae indicated to me that 1 large algae farm mentioned on this page would be about 10,000 acres in size.)
d) AP: Algae a $1m prize-winner in Elon Musk-funded greenhouse gas contest, Apr. 22, 2022
e) EcoWatch: Algae Farms Could Help Increase Global Food Production by 50% by 2050, Oct. 12, 2022
f) Quartz: Algae might be a secret weapon to combatting climate change, Jul. 20, 2022
g) DW Documentary: Why the world needs more algae, not less, July 2, 2021
10) Example articles of how the water crisis is causing food shortages:
a) EuroNews: ‘We don’t have water: Here’s what it’s like living through Europe’s driest summer in memory
b) Politico: The [American] Southwest is bone dry. Now, a key water source is at risk, Jun. 08, 2022
Climate change and worsening drought have driven water stores to dangerous lows. Now the federal government is telling states to drastically cut back.
c) Worldvision: Global water crisis: Facts, FAQs, and how to help, Apr. 16, 2021
d) Deutsche Welle (DW) Documentary: The fight for water (1st in series) | DW Documentary, Aug 10, 2022
This 30-second segment from the Documentary about the Fight for Water discusses what happens to a town that runs out of water. Also shown here is a quick summary of expected migration when 3 billion people live outside the band of a livable environment by 2070: Many people will move north, which I think means that hundreds of millions of people will be moving to Canada, whether they are invited or not.