NewsBits…August 19, 2021

Proteq Purchases Phenometrics, New Company is AlgaeMetrics

Test and measurement equipment manufacturers’ rep firm, Proteq, Inc., has purchased the assets of Phenometrics, Inc. The new company name is AlgaeMetrics, and they intend to be a major force in continuing to drive the development of algae instrumentation worldwide. “This is a great period for the growth and development of algae research instrumentation,” said Brian Abraham, AlgaeMetrics’ Founder. “The worldwide push for new vegan human food sources, coupled with algae’s incredible sustainability and low cost has put a new urgency on what was a small part of algae development years ago. In addition, the continued destruction and danger posed by the increasing threat of Red Tide, as well as a renewed interest in in the extraction of biofuels from algae (including research in other significant areas) have combined to reinvigorate algal research on a global basis. We’re extremely excited to be a part of this essential work.”
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UToledo Engineer Awarded $3.2 Million to Advance Algae Biofuel

The U.S. Department of Energy awarded The University of Toledo a $3.2 million grant to continue advancing technology that speeds up the capture of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to grow algae. It’s part of a $34 million effort announced by the Bioenergy Technologies Office to fund 11 projects nationwide. The support is focused on developing biomass to convert to low-carbon fuel for planes and ships, thus, lowering the carbon footprint of this transportation sector. Dr. Sridhar Viamajala, professor of chemical engineering at UToledo, is looking at ways to speed up production of microalgae using a technique called direct air capture that minimizes the loss of organic carbon, an issue known to slow algae production.
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Green Stream Farms Awarded $250,000 New Mexico Grant

Green Stream Farms in Columbus, N.M. has received a $250,000 grant from the state Local Economic Development Act (LEDA) job-creators fund to increase its annual harvest from 250 tons to 700 tons by 2022 and add 23 employees over the next 5 years. The planned construction and upgrades will increase algae production to industrial scale, allowing for continued expansion and economic growth. “Chile and other agricultural commodities are the foundation of the economy in Luna County,” said New Mexico Economic Development Department Cabinet Secretary Alicia J. Keyes. “With this investment, and our partnership with Luna County, the state is helping to even out the seasonality for some of these jobs and create year-round opportunities for agricultural employment.”
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Algenist Skin Cream: Out with the Orange, in with the Blue

Algenist has added a new ingredient to their portfolio: Blue Algae Vitamin C™, an L-Ascorbic Acid made from regenerative spirulina formulated to help restore skin clarity and improve skin texture in 10 days. “If an ingredient or technology does not exist to help deliver on our promise of 10-day results, or if we see a way to re-envision traditional methods to create naturally-sourced and more sustainably-produced ingredients — we will make our own,” said CEO, Rose Fernandez. “Today we have consumers searching for Vitamin C at high rates. This inspired us to develop a naturally-derived, potent source from a bold, blue spirulina. In our scientific study, our new Blue Algae C outperformed other commonly used forms of the ingredient.”
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Book Release: Spirulina World Food, by Robert Henrikson

Spirulina World Food: How this microalgae can transform your health and our planet presents itself as a complete guide to a powerful food that can help rebuild our health and restore our environment. Mr. Henrikson has been developing algae as a world food resource for over 40 years. He has been President of a major algae food company, founder of the world’s largest spirulina farm, visited farms around the world, and built and operated his own smart microfarms. With 400 color photos, graphs and tables, this book covers: clean green energy for vibrant health using this superfood; scientific discoveries revealing health and medical benefits; how spirulina is ecologically grown, delivering more nutrition per acre than any other food; growing in developing world villages; harvesting from lakes; new microfarm algaepreneurs; how spirulina uses land and water more efficiently than other food crops to benefit our climate; how big investments in algae will grow food, its biopackaging and a dazzling array of new products; and algae schemes and dreams in a circular bio-economy to restore and regreen our planet.
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