May 13, 2011
Cellana receives money to create new algae-based animal feeds
Kona-based Cellana LLC, a key maker of algae-based biofuels and bioproducts, has been given a three-year US$5.5 million grant to form a protein supplement from algae as a byproduct of algal biofuels output and to show its nutritional and economic value in animal feeds.
Funding is provided through the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and the US Department of Energy (DOE)''s Biomass Programme through the Biomass Research and Development Initiative and will help increase the availability of alternative renewable fuels and biobased products to diversify the nation''s energy resources. The award was made through a competitive selection process.
Cellana LLC, a subsidiary of Cellana, Inc., formerly known as HR BioPetroleum, Inc., will receive US$5,521,173 for the project, titled "Developing a New Generation of Animal Feed Protein Supplements." Under this grant, Cornell University will be conducting large-scale animal feeding trials using algae biomass provided by Cellana to identify the most economical and efficacious strains of algae.
"Cellana is looking forward to providing affordable and nutritious food supplies from its production of marine microalgae. These bioproducts support Cellana''s biorefinery business model and can help the livestock industry remain competitive in Hawaii and in other parts of the world," noted Martin Sabarsky, president and CEO of Cellana, Inc.
In addition to the new grant programme, Cellana has programmes with universities in the US and Norway to test proteins from top candidate strains to replace fishmeal in aquaculture feed. Fishmeal protein, an increasingly unsustainable source of aquaculture feed, has reached its peak in global production and become expensive.
"Cellana is also looking forward to providing a commercially viable supply of renewable biofuel in Hawaii to help it meet its renewable energy goals. All critical elements of the company''s algae cultivation technology have been demonstrated at our six-acre facility in Kona and will be incorporated at our proposed commercial plant in Maalaea, Maui. We are on track for this commercial deployment by 2014," Sabarsky added.
Cellana, a Hawaii-founded developer of algae-based biofuels and bioproducts, is focused on using the most productive plant on earth, marine microalgae, to produce feedstocks for biofuels, skin and personal care products, nutritional oils, renewable chemicals and aquaculture and livestock feeds while simultaneously reducing industrial emissions of CO2. Cellana intends to construct and operate commercial facilities to produce these products as integrated algae-based biorefineries. To date, over US$100 million has been invested in developing Cellana''s algae strains, production technologies and its Kona demonstration facility.