Algatech gets organic certification for algae-derived astaxanthin

“NOP organic certification means that our products are being cultivated, processed—and thus able to be labeled as—organic,”​ says Efrat Kat, VP Marketing and Sales for Algatech. “This certification, in addition to our GMP accreditation and non-GMO project verification, reaffirm our commitment to providing premium quality ingredients that consumers and industry partners can trust.” ​The NOP certification is issued by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service.

Sales of organic food and beverage products in the US hit $43 billion in 2015, and demand is often outstripping supply. Organic supply also taps into the wider issue of transparency, which is especially relevant to algae-based products since they can grow under a wide range of conditions, said the company.

There are several approaches to growing Haematococcus pluvialis​, with some companies growing the algae in open ponds while Algatech pioneered a closed tube system at its desert location near the southern Israeli city of Eilat.

“Supplying pure, natural microalgae requires a tremendous amount of knowledge, experience, and fully controlled processes, with constant attention paid to the smallest details,”​ explained Shoshi Shunak, QA Manager for Algatech. “We cultivate microalgae in a patented, eco-friendly, closed system that allows the production of the highest quality ingredients and prevents any exposure to contaminations.”​

“The four NOP principles for organic certification—health, ecology, fairness and sustainability—comply with Algatech’s ‘DNA’ and core values, and therefore to ‘go organic’ was a natural step,”​ said Hagai Stadler, Algatech’s CEO. “Our plant, in the Arava Desert between the Dead Sea and the Red Sea, is a living example of how it is possible to green the desert and unlock the potential of a non-fertile land. Recycling water, saving solar energy is just a small part of activities that Algatech does on regular basis to minimize its environmental footprint. For us, this is a fundamental part of our shared vision: to make an impact by bringing the good that’s inherent in microalgae to the world.”​