AlgaeCytes

AlgaeCytes is a biotechnology company specializing in the cultivation of algae to produce health and wellness ingredients. The company utilizes an advanced photobioreactor system for algae cultivation, featuring enclosed glass tubing and LED lighting to stimulate photosynthesis. AlgaeCytes' patented process optimizes the photosynthetic process, allowing microalgae to flourish and produce valuable compounds. The system regulates light, nutrient supply, and temperature, enabling efficient and consistent production year-round, regardless of external weather conditions.

The company's primary focus is on producing omega-3 oils from microalgae as an alternative to fish-derived sources. This approach offers several advantages, including suitability for vegetarian diets, reduced pressure on fish stocks, and the ability to avoid potential contamination with trace heavy metals sometimes found in fish oil supplements. AlgaeCytes' method allows for the production of high-quality omega-3 oils with variable EPA:DHA ratios, catering to different formulation requirements.

In February 2018, AlgaeCytes joined the ProFlow consortium, which secured an Innovate UK grant of nearly GBP 630,000 for a two-year development program. The consortium aims to scale up a novel acoustic cell harvesting technology developed by LabXero, which could significantly reduce the costs associated with separating algal biomass from its culture medium. This technology uses resonant sound waves to create an acoustic barrier, separating water from microalgae without the need for energy-intensive centrifugation techniques. The development of this technology could potentially lower downstream processing costs, which constitute a substantial portion of total processing expenses in algae-based omega-3 production.