French renewable energy firm Global EcoPower (GEP) has acquired the spirulina production and marketing assets of Tam, as it continues to shift its focus towards sustainable agriculture.
Based in Brittany, Tam is a producer of spirulina through its Cyane trademark. The company is said to have developed the first unit in France for organic greenhouse cultivation and marketing of spirulina. However, the Covid-19 pandemic has reportedly forced Tam to refocus on its core business of tomato farming.
The deal includes all of Tam’s spirulina production facilities, its Cyane brand, business assets and ISO 22000 certification for ecological microalgae cultivation.
The acquisition forms part of GEP’s strategy to develop France’s first “algo-solar” complex that combines green energy and spirulina production, enabling the site to be fully self-sufficient, while also producing surplus power.
As GEP continues to diversify its operations, the company is launching spirulina production units in Hers and Spiruline d’Annjou. These will supply photovoltaic energy to the production of micro-algae food.
With its recent acquisition, GEP intends to increase its spirulina and phycocyanin production and strengthen its position in the growing markets. The company aims to produce 40 tonnes of spirulina per year at each of its sites.
Jean-Marie Santander, chairman and CEO of Global EcoPower, said: “The acquisition of Tam’s business assets is an excellent opportunity for GEP, which will be able to ramp up its presence in the spirulina market with the aim of becoming the European leader in high end spirulina production and the extraction of phycocyanin in France.”
© FoodBev Media Ltd 2024