The Good Algae
The National Algae Association, 501(c)6 is the first non-profit algae industry association in the world for commercialization and deployment of algae production technologies as well as helping to open new markets for algae biobased products and ingredients. We provide platforms for commercially minded algae researchers and producers in commercial production, instrument and equipment (ie, covered raceways, closed-loop photobioreactors PBRs, harvesting and extraction) methods and technologies. Microalgae can be made into high-value nutraceutical Omega 3 EPA/DHA astaxanthin, cosmetics, food, ingredients, feeds, high-value bioactive compounds, pigments, inks, bioconcrete and extracts of bioactive molecules for pharmaceuticals and health care industries. It is comprised of carbohydrates, lipids proteins, carotenoids such as lutein, astaxanthin and fucoxanthin, and nucleic acids with Certificates of Analysis. Algae is renewable, has no effect on the food channel.
Algae consumes CO2
It takes approximately 1.8 tons of CO2 to produce 1.0 ton of algae biomass for various algae products. The specific composition is dependent on strain used and influenced by the method of cultivation, harvesting and/or extraction technologies as well as products made. All production takes place in a controlled environment using technologies proven outside the lab, scalable and economically feasible.
After taxpayers spent $2.5 billion on algae research for over 85 years, NAA’ s commercially minded researchers, private industry with investment pushed forward with commercialization and deployment projects over the last 19 years ago. No longer spending more time on restrictive government research grants, but deployment of technologies proven outside the lab, scalable and economically feasible for higher value products. There is a huge learning curve between what takes place in a lab and scaling-up into commercial algae production. We have found it takes a variety of research and business disciplines working in collaboration to be successful in our industry.
The algae industry has fast-tract production through new research and enhancements to existing technologies that has helped bring down the CAPEX over the last 20 years. NAA facilitates open collaboration between commercially driven algae research, private industry and private investment helping in building the algae industry a projected $3.4 billion dollar market. (Pikes Research)
We offer a wide variety of algae consultancy services from strain selection to commercial production to final product formulation. From starting the algae industry from scratch 18 years we have a network of experts that are knowledgeable in the scale-up of algae cultivation, harvesting, extraction and new product development.
NAA also offers an Algae Production Certification Program and Incubator Program between academia and new start-up companies entering the algae industry. Join commercially minded algae researchers, industry leaders and algaepreneurs in open collaboration building the commercial/industrial algae industry.
The Bad Algae
Harmful algae blooms affect fishing, swimming, tourism, real estate values. local businesses and drinking water. They are a growing concern nationally and globally. HABs can produce toxins that pose significant risks to both human health and aquatic ecosystems.
Heavy Rainfall and Mega Storms
Future climate projections suggest an increase in extreme weather events. For example, the incidence of intense storms causing rainfall to occur in more concentrated bursts followed by long dry periods of drought may increase. Extreme rainfall could increase the transport of nutrients from land into water bodies via runoff. If followed by drought conditions as is projected, water bodies may retain those nutrients for longer periods of time, which increases the potential for HAB development. EPA
Nutrient Runoff at Non-Point Sources
70% of all nutrient runoff comes from agriculture entering waterways in approximately 33 states. We take a holistic ‘source to bloom approach’ to fix these devastating water quality problems. We are helping to reduce nutrient runoff at non-point sources during heavy rainfalls BEFORE entering waterways by using runoff effluents (N+P) to grow algae biofertilizer onsite back to the land and to help reduce harmful algae blooms on lakes and coastlines.
To combat these worsening bloom issues NAA facilitates collaboration between researchers and commercial harmful algae bloom remediation companies using technologies proven outside the lab, scalable and economically feasible that do no harm. Goals are remediation and removal of harmful algae blooms from lakes and coastlines without breaking cells and returning clean water back to waterbodies and repurposing tonnage of biomass into various potential product
