Algae

‘A blank canvas to add whatever flavours desired’: Start-up provides nutrient-rich spirulina meat substitutes

11-Jul-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

The algae spirulina has a wide range of health benefits. Now, a start-up is exploring its potential as a clean-label meat substitute, with flexibility in flavour and in use.

Ice cream from algae? Sophie’s BioNutrients’ chlorella-based ice cream claims to boast more B12 than dairy

29-Jun-2023 By Teodora Lyubomirova

Microalgae cultivation as a topic may be more apt for the biofuel industry, but scientific research has shown that these microscopic organisms can also be utilized as a sustainable food source.

Boomer time: Time to target food and beverages at older consumers

25-May-2023 By Oliver Morrison

There’s a big opportunity for the food and beverage industry to launch products and ingredients formulated help meet the specific nutritional requirements of older consumers and help them stay healthier for longer, the recent FoodNavigator Positive Nutrition...

Microalgae strain from volcanic hot springs has ‘protein-rich food’ potential

08-May-2023 By Flora Southey

Researchers have developed a method to produce a microalga strain containing two amino acids rarely found in such high levels in animal-free protein: cystine and methionine.

DSM builds algal portfolio to help meet the growing demand for omega-3

18-Jan-2023 By Stephen Daniells

DSM is expanding its algal omega-3 portfolio, driven by a gradual convergence in prices between fish and algal oil, and a focus on sustainability.

Kemin breaks into functional beverage market with dispersible form of algal immune health ingredient

14-Dec-2022 By Hank Schultz

Ingredient supplier Kemin Industries is looking to further tap into the thriving functional beverage market with a water dispersible form of its BetaVia immune health ingredient.

Kibbutz Yotvata and Brevel sign MOU to build ‘largest microalgae fermentation reactors of their kind’

08-Sep-2022 By Stephen Daniells

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is an agreement to build a facility for the cultivation and production of microalgae-based protein and related products for the food and beverage industry.

Provectus Algae secures $11.4m to scale sustainable synthetic biology biomanufacturing platform

14-Dec-2021 By Elizabeth Crawford

With an infusion of $11.4 million in pre-series A funding announced today, Australian startup Provectus Algae is ready to rapidly scale the commercial production capacity of its sustainable and “complementary” biomanufacturing platform that leverages...

Tofurky teams up with Triton Algae Innovations for algae-fueled ‘meat innovations’ set to launch in Q1, 2022

22-Sep-2021 By Elaine Watson

Plant based meat brand Tofurky has teamed up with San Diego-based Triton Algae Innovations to commercialize new ‘algae-based meat innovations’ featuring Triton’s protein-rich Non-GMO ‘essential red' algae for retail launch in Q1, 2022.

Provectus Algae to start producing 'high-performance' red food coloring from algae to support the alternative protein market

02-Sep-2021 By Elaine Watson

Provectus Algae – an Australian startup developing an automated growing platform it claims can unlock algae’s potential as a source of high-value ingredients – is building a large-scale manufacturing facility in Noosaville, Australia, that will start...

‘If we can control the light, we can control the DNA…’ Provectus Algae unlocks algae’s potential as an industrial platform for high-value ingredients

06-Jul-2021 By Elaine Watson

Algae is potentially a hugely exciting food source. But with a couple of notable exceptions, it has yet to set the food industry on fire, says Provectus Algae, a startup developing an automated growing platform it claims can unlock algae’s potential as...

New astaxanthin player debuts armed with ‘dark fermentation’ patent

25-Mar-2021 By Hank Schultz

A new player is on the verge of entering the astaxanthin and other markets with the granting of a patent on a ‘dark fermentation’ process for cultivating Haematococcus pluvialis and other algae species.

Algae… the next big thing in plant-based seafood? Triton Algae Innovations gears up for commercial launch

22-Mar-2021 By Elaine Watson

Plant-based tuna featuring protein-packed red algae from Triton Algae Innovations could hit the market by the end of the year, says the San Diego-based firm, which says the ingredient could add an exciting new dimension to the small – but fast-growing...

New proteins, processing technologies could open the door for plant-based seafood to gain share

29-Sep-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

Even though seafood alternatives account for only a small fraction of the current total plant-based protein market, it is primed for fast-paced growth and holds the most promise for capturing market share from its animal-based conventional counterpart,...

Corbion discontinues Thrive algae oil: ‘We were not able to achieve the commercial success needed to sustain the brand’

10-Aug-2020 By Elaine Watson

Corbion has discontinued Thrive – the first culinary algae oil on the market – three years after acquiring the brand from San Francisco-based TerraVia in the fall of 2017.

96% of the globe may have insufficient access by 2100

Could climate change cause DHA omega-3 from oceans to plummet?

04-Mar-2020 By Stephen Daniells

Warming oceans may deliver a crushing blow to the production of DHA omega-3 by algae, which would ripple up the food chain and slash the global availability of this critical nutrient by 2100, says a scientific paper. But could rapid advances in plant...

Noblegen unveils vegan whole egg replacement featuring protein from ‘ancient micro-organism’ Euglena gracilis

05-Feb-2020 By Elaine Watson

Canadian startup Noblegen has unveiled ‘the egg’ - its first consumer product under the eunite brand showcasing the ‘ancient microorganism’ euglena gracilis, which it claims can produce proteins with exciting functional and nutritional characteristics......

Nestlé tie up with Corbion gives fresh impetus to algae in the alternative protein market

14-Nov-2019 By Elaine Watson

Algae has not – yet – gained much traction in the ‘alternative’ protein market. However, things could be about to change following a deal between Corbion (which acquired assets from algae ingredients pioneer Terravia in 2017) and Nestlé to develop the...

WATCH: ‘We want Spira to be the Willy Wonka of algae…’

05-Nov-2019 By Elaine Watson

One of 15 startups pitching at Rabobank’s FoodBytes! competition in Chicago last month, Spira is using CRISPR gene editing techniques to create more stable natural blue pigments from spirulina, and exploring the potential of spirulina protein isolate.

Triton woos plant-based meat makers with Non GMO source of heme, the secret sauce in the Impossible Burger

13-Mar-2019 By Elaine Watson

Triton Algae Innovations - a San Diego-based firm building a production platform for food proteins from algae - says it can produce heme (the red, meaty-tasting star ingredient in the Impossible Burger) without using genetic engineering, generating significant...

New algae player debuts with highly refined EPA ingredient

19-Dec-2018 By Hank Schultz

Chinese/American company Lyxia has debuted as a new player in the algae omega-3s space with a highly refined EPA ingredient from a photosynthetic strain.

San Diego start-up develops algae production platform capable of producing proteins found in bovine and human breast milk

29-Oct-2018 By Elaine Watson

A San Diego-based firm building a production platform for food proteins from green algae says it can produce recombinant proteins identical to those found in bovine and human breast milk, which it claims could prove a game changer in the infant formula...

Thrive algae oil to roll out at Walmart as Corbion celebrates anniversary of TerraVia acquisition

27-Sep-2018 By Elaine Watson

A year after acquiring microalgae ingredients specialist TerraVia, new owner Corbion has seen the most success with a consumer packaged product - Thrive culinary algae oil - which is rolling out to more than 2,000 Walmart stores this fall, taking its...

NEWS IN BRIEF

DuPont Nutrition & Health divests alginates business to JRS group

25-May-2018 By Adi Menayang

Global ingredients maker DuPont Nutrition & Health is divesting its alginates business to Germany-headquartered JRS Group, a specialist in functional additives and plant-based raw materials.

Algatech Opens US Subsidiary, names Seguine as new US Head

16-Jun-2017 By Stephen Daniells

Israeli microalgae experts Algatech has opened Algatech Inc., a New York City-based subsidiary, and appointed industry veteran Ken Seguine to lead the new operation.

Can 'low oxalate' be the next low sodium or sugar? Ingredient startup Entring LLC thinks so

18-May-2017 By Adi Menayang

Florida-based startup Entring LLC is launching a nature-identical enzyme of the oxalate decarboxylase type found in blue green algae. Branded as Nephure, it was formulated to support urinary tract health by combating high-oxalate foods.

NOSB debates organic status of carrageenan, tocopherols, marine algae, hydroponics

16-Nov-2016 By Elizabeth Crawford

Organic industry stakeholders from across the nation are gathered in St. Louis today for what promises to be a highly contentious three-day meeting during which the National Organic Standards Board will debate the role of hydroponic production, carrageenan,...

Algae special edition

Curious about algal production? Here’s a glimpse of the technology

31-Aug-2016 By Adi Menayang

We talk with president and CEO of microalgae ingredient company Cyanotech, Gerald R. Cysewski, to get the basics of algae production.

Special edition: The infinite potential of algae

Spirulina’s bright future rests on protein, health, and quality: Experts

31-Aug-2016 By Stephen Daniells

As Americans move towards meat alternatives, demand for protein-rich Spirulina will increase, but quality standards need to weed out the not-so-clean sources, say leading producers.

Beta-glucan from algae: ‘It’s a simpler, more bioavailable, and better priced product’

31-Aug-2016 By Stephen Daniells

The dietary supplement space is showing a lot of interest in algal-derived beta-glucan, and functional foods are next, says the CSO of Algal Scientific Corporation.

Special edition: Algae

Expert says algae's promise still huge despite disappointments in ingredient development

23-Aug-2016 By Hank Schultz

Algae companies have a habit of over promising and under delivering. According to one longtime expert in the field, that’s almost by default, resulting from the organisms’ almost unlimited potential and the limited ability of current technology to realize...

Algae-fueled VeganEgg has taken off like a rocketship, says Follow Your Heart

14-Dec-2015 By Elaine Watson

VeganEgg - a novel 100% plant-based whole egg replacer utilizing algae as its core ingredient - has taken off like a rocketship, says brand owner Follow Your Heart, which is ramping up production for a wider roll-out in 2016.

Hybrid algae producer Heliae quietly approaches full scale production

22-Aug-2013 By Hank Schultz

Early stage algae company Heliae has taken a quiet approach to business development. While the Arizona-based company is close to coming to market with a range of nutraceutical ingredients, not much has been said about them in the marketplace or the press,...