Israeli organic sea lettuce lines make a splash

Israeli organic sea lettuce lines make a splash

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August 24th, 2015

Fresh organic seaweed harvested directly from the Mediterranean Sea and cultivated in specialized offshore eco pools in Israel has led to new lines of ‘sea lettuce’ marketed by Arava Export Growers. Herb sales manager Omer Kamp speaks with www.freshfruitportal.com about the ‘mind-blowing’ superfood making waves in the Middle East.

“”Our organic seaweeds have all the characteristics that make a produce [item] a real winner. For starters, the nutritional value tops the charts in all aspects,”” Kamp says. 

““It can be used in diverse culinary applications, it’s eco-clean and organic and there is stable and continuous availability all year round with the unique and innovative methods.””

Grown at the Seakura sea farm located at the natural reserve of Michmoret on the coastal strip between Tel Aviv and Haifa, the seaweed is extracted from the depths of the ocean and carefully cultivated under a controlled process that balances water properties and circulation with the density of growth and exposure to the sun.

Using what Seakura describes as ‘ground-breaking technology,’ up to nine crops can be harvested per year of what Kamp describes as ‘the healthiest and most nutritional food on Earth’.

““The farm growing the seaweed, Seakura, is probably the only one in existence that actually cultivates the product on land and offshore with the use of purified Mediterranean sea water.

“”While others simply harvest the weeds from the ocean, Seakura took the initiative to grow it in specialized eco pools on the seashore, approximately 50 meters ways from the sea line. In other words, not only are the seaweeds 100% organic, but also they are 100% clean and with exceptional nutritional values.””

The ultimate superfood?

According to Seakura, the sea lettuce is packed with iron, vitamins B12, C, magnesium and protein with a mineral and fiber content so rich, it’’s difficult to find anything else with such ‘superfood’ credentials.

“”A seaweed, in all its forms, has the ability to absorb minerals, vitamins and all of what the surroundings offer. However, when grown near the shores, it also absorbs the negative elements we wish to avoid such as petro, lead, mercury and pollutants.

““Seakura, on the other hand, has innovated a unique technology that allows the control of what the plant absorbs by restricting its environment. Since the water is pumped from the abyss, heavy metals and petro is nowhere to be found, thus we get a clean, eco product.””

Avara is marketing two lines; the Ulva and Gracilaria either loose or in 100 grams closed lid packages which have a shelf life of around 18 days if kept at three to 6°C (43°F).

Negotiations are going on with retailers in the U.K. and Germany where the potential health benefits of seaweed are resonating with consumers amid a wave of celebrity chefs using it in salad, pasta and side vegetable dishes as well as part of trending vegetarian and vegan recipes.

Israeli organic sea lettuce lines make a splash

Israeli organic sea lettuce lines make a splash

Ethylene Production Via Sunlight Opens Door to Future - News Feature | NREL

Ethylene Production Via Sunlight Opens Door to Future - News Feature | NREL

Using Algae in the Wastewater Treatment Process - Sustainable technology...

3 Reasons We’re Closer To An Algae Future Than You Think

By PAUL LESTER | U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGYon July 30, 2015 at 5:00 PM

Tiny algae organisms have big potential for America’s clean energy future. These microscopic green machines convert sunlight into energy, storing it in the form of natural oils that can be extracted to fuel planes, cars and trains. It’s estimated that under the right conditions, algae could produce up to 60 times more oil per acre than land-based plants.

Since algae needs carbon dioxide to grow, it takes greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere, making it nearly carbon-neutral. In addition, algae can grow in a variety of environments — including man-made ponds, brackish water and wastewater.

While algae shows great potential as a homegrown and renewable fuel source, just how far away is this promise from becoming a reality? Here are three reasons why we should expect algal biofuels to become a major contributor to our nation’s energy mix sooner rather than later.

1. PRODUCTION IS UP.

One of the biggest barriers to making algal biofuels more affordable is developing the right kind of algae that can yield large amounts of oil and grow quickly enough to drive down production costs. The Energy Department’s Bioenergy Technologies Office is addressing this problem by supporting research that involves finding new algae strains in the wild and improving existing algae strains in the lab.

Recently, researchers at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography genetically engineered algae to boost the amount of energy-storing molecules essential for making oil, signaling a breakthrough in algal biofuel production.

2.  LOGISTICAL PROBLEMS ARE BEING SOLVED. 

Producing any type of fuel requires multiple processes and systems that convert raw material into a finished product. For algal biofuel production, this involves processes like harvesting, dewatering and concentrating algae material so it can be preprocessed and eventually refined into fuel. This can be expensive and time consuming — but the Energy Department is finding new ways to streamline logistics and lower the cost of algal biofuel production. This includes a process developed by Pacific Northwest National Laboratorythat transforms algae to oil, water and usable byproducts in less than an hour.

3. ALGAL BIOREFINERIES ARE SCALING UP — BIG TIME.  

Algal biofuels are being produced on a bigger scale than ever before with help from Energy Department-supported integrated biorefineries that are changing the clean energy game. Among these is Sapphire Energy in New Mexico, which is producing algal oils that can be easily processed into diesel and other fuels through their refining partners, Phillips 66 and Tesoro. When fully constructed, the plant will produce up to 1 million gallons of algae-based biofuels per year.

Watch this Energy 101 video to see how algal biofuels work, and go to energy.gov/algae for more details on the Energy Department’s efforts to make this clean, renewable fuel source more affordable and sustainable. Also, read this article to find out how algae can used to make other products (like surfboards)!

Biofuel photo courtesy of Shutterstock. 

Blue algae outbreak threatens water supply in China’s 5th largest lake

Blue algae outbreak threatens water supply in China’s 5th largest lake

[China] Environmental authorities in east China’s Anhui Province are battling an intense blue algae outbreak in Chaohu Lake, the country’s fifth largest fresh water lake, as they struggle to ensure clean water for local residents.

Blue algae grew by as much as 852 percent from the normal level on July 1st and has been hard to contain, said Zhu Yu, deputy director of environment monitoring center in Anhui.

The algae, which usually blooms in summer amid warm temperature, were found at Bakou and Chuanchang, two sources for drinking water at Chaohu Lake. Dozens of environment workers are collecting the blue algae from the lake.

“We are closely watching the water quality. Microcystin, a toxin which threatens drinking water, has not been detected. We have also stepped up purifying procedure to ensure water supply,” Zhu said.

Emergency water supply is ready, Zhu said. About 50,000 tons of water can be supplied from other water sources in ten days.

He Zequn, deputy director of environment protection department, said Chaohu’s blue algae blight has eased over the last few years, but this year it has apparently relapsed.

More than 220 million yuan (about 35 million US dollars) has been spent to contain blue algae this year. About 120,000 tons of blue algae have been collected.

“The relapse is a new warning to us. We have to keep up with efforts,” he said

Microalgae discovery could lead to new cholesterol treatment

Israeli researchers have discovered a strain of microalgae that could be used as a treatment to reduce cholesterol, blood pressure and inflammation.

By Nicky Blackburn    JUNE 2, 2010, 12:00 AM

 

Jacob-Blaustein-Institutes-for-Desert-Research

Scientists from the Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research hope their work with microalgae will lead to new treatments for high blood pressure and cholesterol.

Israeli scientists have isolated a strain of microalgae which produces large amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids that could be used to reduce blood pressure, chronic inflammation and blood cholesterol level, lowering the risk of heart attacks.

The researchers from Beersheba’s Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) discovered that the algal mutant, a microscopic algae found in freshwater, is capable of accumulating up to 15 percent (dry weight) of a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), called Dihomo-γ-Linolenic Acid, or DGLA for short. They believe the algae is the only known plant source capable of producing such significant amounts of this fatty acid.

“Omega-6 PUFA are necessary as components of brain cell membranes and have various nutritional uses,” says Prof. Zvi HaCohen, who leads the research team from the Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research (BIDR).

“DGLA is one of these PUFA, but appears in nature only as an intermediate in the biosynthesis of other compounds and does not accumulate to any appreciable concentration. There is no natural source for DGLA and although its beneficial effects are well known, very few clinical studies have been conducted,” he adds.

A treatment for life-threatening diseases

The research team also included the director of the Landau Laboratory at BIDR, Prof. Sammy Boussiba; director of the BIDR Prof. Avigad Vonshak; Dr. Inna Khozin-Goldberg; and Ph.D. student Pushkar Shrestha.

The scientists believe their find could have a significant impact on treatment for a range of severe diseases.

“The discovery of the IKG-1 microalgal mutant and its high content of DGLA could impact treatment of life-threatening diseases, such as chronic inflammations, multiple sclerosis and arteriosclerosis,” says Dr. Ora Horovitz, vice president of business development for BGN Technologies, the technology transfer and commercialization subsidiary of BGU.

The microalgal laboratory of BIDR specializes in microalgae and has developed a range of products that harness Negev resources like brackish water and abundant sunlight.