DES MOINES – The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO) is a non-profit trade association and unified voice of the algae industry. Working on behalf of all sectors, the ABO advocates for algae-advancing policy and funding, serves as a hub for innovation and networking, and drives demand for “made with algae” products and services. The ABO’s diverse membership includes over 150 commercial algae companies, academic institutions, national research laboratories, governmental agencies and professional consulting groups throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia. The ABO’s commercial algae companies utilize algae for animal feed, human consumption, sustainable aviation fuel, wastewater treatment and as a soil amendment for regenerative agriculture.
At the ABO’s annual Summit held in Houston, Texas on October 20-22, the 2024 Algae Industry Award winners were announced. The Algae Industry Awards are the algae industry’s pre-eminent awards and they are presented to individuals and companies who have made substantial contributions to the overall growth of our industry. The ABO is pleased to announce the 2024 winners.
The Champion of Algae Award was presented to Dr. Martin Gross, CEO and co-founder of Gross Wen Technologies (www.algae.com) This award is presented to an individual who has provided exceptional contributions to the growth of the algae industry through professional services. After founding Gross-Wen Technologies in 2016, Dr. Gross led the development and commercialization of the revolving algal biofilm™️ treatment technology (RAB™️), a sustainable, next generation wastewater treatment system using algae. The RAB system recovers nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater, produces clean water and air, and yields valuable algae biomass.
The Product of the Year Award was presented to Carbonwave Sarga Agriscience (www.carbonwave.com) in recognition of a high impact algae product that made significant contribution to the visibility of the algae industry within the last year. Accepting the award was company CEO, Geoff Chapin.
Sarga Ag harnesses the power of sargassum to nourish crops – turning a seaweed problem into a climate solution. Sargassum is a type of seaweed that washes up on the shores of the Caribbean, causing environmental and economic problems. When it decomposes, it releases methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. Sarga Ag collects and processes sargassum into seaweed extract, earning Carbon Credits certified by The Gold Standard, an organization that works with projects demonstrating broader social and environmental impact beyond just carbon. The end result is that Sarga Ag reduces greenhouse gas emissions, supports Caribbean communities and ecosystems affected by sargassum, and the seaweed extracts enhance plant vigor, improve soil health and boost crop yields.
The Project of the Year Award was presented to AlgaeWheel by One Water (www.algaewheel.com) and their commercial wastewater treatment installation in New Albin, Iowa. This award recognizes a scientific or commercial project of particular importance for the progress of algae and/or seaweed solutions.
Algaewheel® is an innovative bio-engineered, nature-based wastewater treatment technology. It consumes up to 90% less energy than conventional systems while absorbing significantly more CO₂ than it emits to deliver a Net Zero Carbon treatment solution. In addition, methane (CH₄) emissions are fully abated. This proven, U.S. patented technology bio-mimics nature’s symbiotic relationship between bacteria and algae to deliver extremely efficient biological aeration minimizing the need for energy-intensive mechanical equipment.
Algae Wheel’s commercial installation in the City of New Albin’s wastewater treatment facility was completed in the summer of 2024.
The Unsung Hero Award was presented to Dylan Franks PhD for unheralded dedication and career contributions to the growth of the algae industry.
Dylan Franks, Ph.D. is the Chief Operations Officer and Co-founder of Jelly Labs, a cannabis tissue culture nursery that leverages advanced scientific methods to produce pest- and pathogen-free starter plants. In addition to his work in cannabis, Dylan has over a decade of experience in algal biomass research. As the 2024 Chair of the Algae Biomass Summit and a long-standing volunteer for the Algae Biomass Organization, he has contributed significantly to the algal research field and the photoautotrophic production of algal biomass.
According to ABO Executive Director, Jon Kallen, “All of these winners have provided significant contributions to the algae industry through their career contributions, exceptional products and or innovative commercial scale projects. On behalf of the ABO members based in over 33 U.S. states and 8 countries and our Board of Directors, we are honored to recognize these companies and individuals.”