Japan-based microalgae farming operation Euglena Co. has earned the world’s first ASC-MSC Seaweed (Algae) Standard certification, according to a 23 January announcement.
The company, which supplies microalgae products for several industries including health food, cosmetics, and biofuels, earned the certification for its microalgae farm based on Ishigaki island in Okinawa, Japan. Two types of microalgae are produced at Euglena Co.’s on-shore facility in Ishigaki: Euglena and Chlorella. Both types are rich in nutrients, vitamins, and amino acids, the company said.
“This is an important milestone after a great deal of hard work and close collaboration between ASC and MSC, and I’d like to congratulate Euglena Co. on their achievement,” ASC CEO Chris Ninnes said in a press release. “There are some truly exciting applications for seaweed and microalgae, but with production rapidly increasing around the world it is important that the environmental and social impacts are limited. The ASC-MSC standard aims to help ensure that these important products can be harvested in a way that benefits everyone.”
“The innovative use of seaweed and microalgae has huge potential to contribute to food security, a healthy ocean and the achievement of several of the Sustainable Development Goals more broadly,” MSC CEO Rupert Howes said. “I congratulate Euglena Co. on becoming the first entity in the world to achieve ASC-MSC certification and very much hope this is just the beginning of a widespread engagement by the sector.”
Mitsuru Izumo, CEO of Euglena Co., said he is eager to see seaweed and other algae-related companies pursue certification under the unique standard, which launched in February 2018 after over two years in development.
“Euglena Co. is extremely pleased to receive the world’s first ASC-MSC Seaweed (Algae) certification. We produce Euglena and Chlorella on Ishigaki Island in Okinawa, an island surrounded by beautiful sea and nature, and we hope many people have the opportunity to benefit from these products,” Izumo said. “Japan is surrounded by resourceful seas with high mineral contents and abundant seaweeds and it is vital that these resources are used responsibly. We wish to encourage and support other seaweed and algae related companies towards the MSC-ASC Standard. Euglena Co. is committed to further develop our environmentally and socially responsible activities to meet the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals.”
Izumo said seeing the pervasiveness of malnutrition in Bangladesh firsthand was the catalyst for Izumo starting Euglena Co., which began large-scale production of microalgae products in 2005. Currently, the company is researching the use of oil extracted from the microalgae as jet and diesel fuel.
Many of Euglena Co.’s products feature Euglena, and the company looks forward to finding new applications for the versatile microalgae. Up for consideration is using the resource as an environmentally-friendly feed for both aquaculture and agriculture, or as a high-carbon agent in green technology.
According to estimates from the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization, seaweeds and other algae harvested annually have a collective total value of USD 5.65 billion (EUR 4.97 billion).
