15 AlgaePrize Finalist Teams Are Discovering the Tricks and Treats of Innovating with Algae
The 15 AlgaePrize finalist teams are making great progress in their unique projects.
Fast-growing algae can become fuel, food, fertilizer, industrial compounds, and animal feed. But innovating with algae can be tricky—like innovation is for any emerging technology.
That’s not stopping the AlgaePrize 2023–2025 finalist teams that continue to share their innovations with the algae industry. Their goals are to develop, design, and invent technologies in the commercial algae value chain. The latest updates show teams are prepared to pivot and invent new experimental solutions as they encounter challenges during the discovery process:
AlgaeNano+: Significant progress continues in biocarbon production and characterization, while also emphasizing STEM education and outreach through presentations and seminars.
AlgaeUnlocked: Used novel oxidative hydrothermal dissolution technology to process microalgae for developing a plant biostimulant, yielding mixed results. Use of Lunar and Martian regolith resulted in diverse bacterial contamination.
Algators: Established the "greenhouse phase" of their research and implemented protocols for tomato fertilization studies.
Aloha Limu: Initiated growth and optimization trials for local limu and developed mitigation protocols to address a diatom infestation.
BlazerBloom: Progressed on identifying specific interactions between magnetotactic bacteria and multiple species of microalgae while also focusing on software and educational outreach tools development.
Blue Genes: Encountered challenges in optimizing Galdieria cultivation but achieved success with Spirulina cultures, and improved processes for phycocyanin extraction and purification.
Clean Green Feed: Met the project goal of developing an algae strain that produces high quantities of bioavailable methionine.
Green Skies: Secured access to Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Argonne National Laboratory tools; identified another data source of cost-effective digital elevation measurements; and began using an open-source geographic information system software for managing geospatial data.
Green Thumbs: Identified trends related to membrane pore size, anode material, and power requirements for affecting pH changes and increasing flocculation; built first prototype reactor for treating algae in a continuous flow system.
JCCC Chlorella Cavaliers: Fostered partnerships, mentorships, and collaborations with original labs and authors; used new methods, vectors, plasmids, and media resulted in successful transgenic expressions.
Just AD Algae: Cultured algae using hydroponic drain-to-waste effluent and anaerobic digestate in place of stock nutrients; continuing to optimize biogas production from the anaerobic digestion of algae.
KelBerry: Novel alginate extraction procedures using local Connecticut kelp enhanced development of food-based protective coatings extending the shelf life of strawberries.
Parachlorella Plastic Pals: Developed 100% algae-based thermoplastic polyurethanes from solid diols, with method modifications resulting in liquid diols and reduced impurities.
Team ASAP: Fully sequenced five seaweeds with assemblies under construction; annotations initiated in partnership with the University of California, Santa Cruz; and micropropogation is underway.
The Algenius Thinkers: Finalized their plasmids and transformed it into Escherichia coli and obtained plasmid concentrations using NanoDrop and Qubit.
BETO applauds this hard work and recognizes that honing problem solving, teamwork, and scientific method skills will be essential for this next generation of scientists, entrepreneurs, and bioeconomy leaders. Stay tuned for future updates on the teams’ projects, and visit the AlgaePrize Competition webpage to learn more.
BETO supports technology research, development, and demonstration to accelerate greenhouse gas emissions reductions through the cost-effective and sustainable use of biomass and waste feedstocks across the U.S. economy. BETO is part of DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy.
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