11 2010
Unilever and Solazyme to jointly develop oils from algae
Solazyme, Inc., a renewable oil and bioproducts company, has signed a research and development agreement with Unilever to develop oil derived from algae for use in soaps and other personal care products. The agreement follows the culmination of a yearlong collaboration between Solazyme and Unilever, in which Solazyme’s renewable algal oils were tested successfully in Unilever product formulations.
“Algal oil provides important benefits in personal care applications,” explained Jonathan Wolfson, CEO of Solazyme. “Solazyme’s algal oils can help meet the growing demand for completely renewable, natural and sustainable personal care products. Unilever is an acknowledged world leader in sustainability and we are honored to be working with them to develop this new renewable source of natural oils for their world class consumer products.”
24 2010
Norwegian Omega-3 oil from Calamari hits the market
Pharma Marine Group, founded by Omega-3 industry veteran Leif Gjendemsjø, has recently introduced Calamarine™ a line of eco-friendly high DHA Omega-3 ingredients for use in dietary supplements, pharmaceuticals and functional food items. Derived from the byproducts of food-grade calamari (Cephalopoda), Calamarine™ Omega-3 oils offer a highly sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative.
Calamari naturally contains high levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). An increasing body of research supports DHA as the more efficacious option for addressing most of the common health conditions supported by Omega-3 supplementation.
24 2010
Marine ingredient-based liquid fertilizers promoted for helping plants fight drought in Philippines
As the El Niño phenomenon prevailing in some parts ravages agricultural crops, a Philippine fertilizer manufacturer has came up with a product that could help plants withstand water shortage due to the dry spell.
The Amebocyte Cell Company, Inc. (ACCI), manufacturer of Vegegrow Organic Plant Food & amp (adenosine monophosphate), a pure liquid organic fertilizer derived from marine plant extracts, claims their natural plant food and bio stimulant contains anti-oxidants, cytokinins and other plant hormones that can help crops withstand extreme moisture stress.
24 2010
Clay-algal extract combination has use in antibiotec-free animal feed and purification of water from waste effluents
EUREKA project E! 3025 MONALISA has developed a new, completely natural alternative to using antibiotics in animal feed. Formerly used as growth promoters and to prevent the damaging effects of the fungal toxins which are often present in feed, antibiotics have been prohibited for use in animal feed in the EU since 2006 – creating a need for a new, effective antimycotoxic agent. The already-known capacity of clay minerals to adsorb these mycotoxins has been increased ten times over in this project by the incorporation of molecules of extracts from algae (seaweed) onto the clay. The resulting activated clay is added to animal feed, where it is highly efficient at adsorbing the mycotoxin molecules.
The process, which involves suspension of the clay and seaweed extract in water, followed by removal of the remaining algal extract, centrifugation and drying, now holds two worldwide patents. It is the development of this process that is the main technological innovation. As well as applications in the field of animal feed, the clay-algal extract combination has potential uses in the purification of water from waste effluents, heavy metals or radioactive pollution.
20 2010
Marine Ingredient Entrepreneur Talking Up Seaweed and Nova Scotia at the Olympics
Nova Scotia seaweed entrepreneur Jean-Paul Deveau is in Vancouver to enjoy the Olympics, promote Acadian Seaplants and his Canadian region to people of influence, and learn what it takes to organize a winter games that will attract about 2,700 athletes.
Deveau is president of seaweed products manufacturer Acadian Seaplants but he is also chairman of the 2011 Canada Winter Games organization coming next year to Halifax.
20 2010
International Seaweed Symposium to be held in Ensenada Baja California México, February 22-26, 2010
The symposium offers the opportunity to stay abreast of the most recent advances in applied phycology and industrial opportunities. Learn about new topics of global interest such as the use of genomic data in the development of new cultivars, advances in the understanding of plant and animal response mechanisms to seaweed extracts, and exciting advances in the understanding of the metabolism of algal polysaccharides.
Other relevant topics will include the role of seaweeds as carbon sink, seaweeds as a source of biofuels, and the feasibility and implications of large-scale cultivation. The problems associated with the spread of non-indigenous species, seaweed diseases and their effects on seaweed farms, as well as the effect on the ecology of seaweed communities will also be discussed.
15 2010
Research shows effectiveness of natural seaweed extract on Osteoarthritis symptoms
Research published today in Biologics: Targets & Therapy, cites human clinical trials conducted at Southern Cross University NatMed Research Centre, which have demonstrated that the natural seaweed extract can reduce Osteoarthritis symptoms in some patients by up to 52%. The extract used in the clinical trials is a natural complex of concentrated fucoidans – bioactive polysaccharides thought to be responsible for many of the health benefits attributed to brown seaweeds such as wakame. All clinical trial participants had clinically-diagnosed osteoarthritis of the knee and were given a daily dose of the fucoidan-rich extract over a 12 week period during which the changes in their symptoms were observed.
Participants taking 100mg of the seaweed extract each day showed an 18% reduction in osteoarthritis symptoms, using the internationally-validated COAT (Comprehensive Osteoarthritis Test) assessment protocol. Participants taking 1000mg per day reported a staggering 52% reduction in symptoms.
Developed by Australian biotechnology company Marinova Pty Ltd, the natural Maritech® extract used in the clinical trials is derived from seaweed species growing in the pristine ocean waters of Patagonia and Nova Scotia. Unlike most complementary therapies which target osteoarthritis, Maritech® extract has Organic, Kosher and Halal certifications and is suitable for patients with seafood and shellfish allergies.
Full details of the Study can be found at Biologics: Targets & Therapy 2010:4 33-44
12 2010
Six-day conference on marine biotechnology held in Italy, June 2010
A six-day conference on marine biotechnology will be held in Acquafredda di Maratea, Italy from 20 to 25 June 2010.
This conference is designed to promote scientific excellence in marine biotechnology, give a platform for leading scientists and young researchers to present their work and discuss the future of the field in Europe. Organised around seven-half day sessions, event topics will include:
- algae and seaweed biomass;
- aquaculture;
- bioprospecting;
- human and environmental health;
- enzymes;
- marine bionanotechnology and biomaterials;
- marine models;
- pollution and bioremediation;
- bioinformatics and research infrastructures
05 2010
International MareLife Innovation Workshop to run a parallel session on second day of The North Atlantic Seafood Forum, Oslo, Norway 3-4. March, 2010
The main objective of the workshop is to provide a meeting place to enhance bio marine innovation through the facilitation of alliances and synergy across otherwise distant sectors and players.
31 2010
Scripps researchers win race to synthesize marine natural product Palau’amine
The compound Palau’amine, discovered in 1993, is so chemically complex that finding a way to produce it in the laboratory became the most hotly pursued synthetic chemistry goal in modern history. Groups around the globe dedicated millions to the challenge, but it is a team of scientists from The Scripps Research Institute that has finally completed the quest.
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- Unilever and Solazyme to jointly develop oils from algae
- Norwegian Omega-3 oil from Calamari hits the market
- Marine ingredient-based liquid fertilizers promoted for helping plants fight drought in Philippines
- Clay-algal extract combination has use in antibiotec-free animal feed and purification of water from waste effluents
- Marine Ingredient Entrepreneur Talking Up Seaweed and Nova Scotia at the Olympics
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