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Sun Chemical has unveiled a new edible algae cultivation facility in California, US, operated by its subsidiary Earthrise Nutritionals. This facility aims to integrate sustainable smart farming practices into the production of spirulina, a blue-green algae known for its nutritional benefits and applications in food colouring and dietary supplements.

The newly established 420,000 m² facility employs advanced agricultural technologies designed to enhance crop yields and quality through real-time monitoring of environmental conditions.

By using a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system, the facility centralises data management, enabling efficient analysis and visualisation of growing conditions. This approach is expected to bolster sustainability efforts by promoting energy and water conservation.

The facility's design incorporates collaborative robotic arms to facilitate safe operations while reducing labour costs. Additionally, an AI-driven system and drone technology are employed for facility analysis, ensuring optimal algae growth, high-quality production and compliance with regulatory standards.

Notably, the facility is engineered to purify over 1,200 tons of CO2, which is utilised during photosynthesis to support spirulina growth. This process not only enhances the sustainability of production but also aligns with broader environmental goals.

More than 50% of the energy required for spirulina cultivation is sourced from renewable energy provided by the Imperial Irrigation District, a public utility in Southern California.

A state-of-the-art water control management system is also integral to the facility's operations, enabling the production of Sun Chemical's Linablue spirulina extract – a naturally derived blue food colouring. This system achieves zero discharge of industrial wastewater, ensuring that the facility maintains high product quality while minimising its environmental footprint.

Yangyang Jin, business manager for food and nutrition at Sun Chemical, highlighted the company's commitment to sustainability: "By combining smart farming techniques with sustainable solutions, this new facility ensures our California-grown spirulina will remain a superior environmentally-friendly solution to our customers around the world".