Marine ingredients start-up Yemoja has opened a new microalgae production plant to meet the growing demand for its ingredients from the nutraceutical and cosmeceutical sectors.
Located in the Upper Galilee region of Israel, the new production site is dedicated to microalgae cultivation. Yemoja revealed earlier this year that it had developed a platform which allows it to cultivate customised, medical-grade microalgae, and the new site utilises this high-precision, fast-track photobioreactor technology to create a variety of algae-based ingredients.
The facility features a small batch production line featuring vertical luminescent columns known as illis. Each ille is allocated a specific algae species, and Yemoja claims that each ille is closed off and isolated from other units to prevent cross-contamination.
The company also claims that the contaminant-free system enables it to maintain absolute control of key production parameters such as temperature, pH, light, and CO2 emissions, ensuring that a broad spectrum of algae-based ingredients can be produced in a tightly controlled environment.
Erez Ashkenazi, COO and co-founder of Yemoja, said: “We built a ‘green’ factory in which we can create and maintain the ultimate conditions for any known microalgae species, yet with zero dependence on external environment and weather.
“Our indoor system generates exceptional yields with proven reproducibility on a very small plot of land and using minimal resources.
“Our unique site runs on recycled water and minimal energy. The exploitation of artificial light for photosynthesis limits the need for cooling.
“We meticulously designed the site to meet to the highest standards of operational efficiency in order to minimise environmental impact leaving only a tiny carbon footprint. Our speciality ingredients are cultivated in a chemical-free, all-natural process, with a full respect of our natural habitat.”
Eyal Shalmon, CEO of Yemoja, added: “Recently we have received heightened interest in our external polysaccharide sulphate (EPS) Porphyridium cruentum due largely to increased global demand.
“The polysaccharide has been investigated for its ability to be merged into various biotechnological applications and industry disciplines including, cosmetics and biomedicine.”
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