The company will focus on opportunities in the plant-based functional food, nutraceutical, and beverage ingredient markets, and together with collaborator, Virun Nutra-BioSciences, is unveiling its new ingredient platform at IFT 2017 in Las Vegas this week.
“Today we’re pleased to be introducing Algarithm as a new and innovative omega 3 provider that will leverage POS Bio-Science’s existing expertise in omega 3 processing to meet the explosive growth we see in the consumer markets for plant-based DHA ingredients,” said Dale Kelly, CEO of POS Bio-Sciences. “We have a marketplace ready for change and we plan to be the defacto source for high value ingredients from algal oil.”
The company is partnering with Virun to produce retail-ready algal oil powders and emulsions derived from its unique 40% DHA algal oil.
“We’re not the first to put omega-3s in food and beverage but we think Virun’s technology is providing something that hasn’t been done before,” Kelly told us. “The market is ready for an alternative to Martek/DSM.”
Algarithm will offer the ingredients to the dietary supplement space but the greater opportunity is in food, beverage and sports nutrition.
Sustainable with good shelf-stable
Algarithm is using an innovative water extraction processing technique that improves taste and diminishes odors, producing oils, powders, and emulsions that deliver on price, taste, sustainability and convenience of formulation.
The powders are vegan, water dispersible, non-GMO, have a high DHA concentration, have a one-year shelf life, said the company, and provide flexibility for beverage and baking applications. They are offered in three flavors – citrus/berry, chocolate, and vanilla.
Retail-ready emulsions with flavors that span from tangerine and key lime to chocolate and churro are also available through the relationship with Virun.
“The Algarithm ingredients leverage the Virun Esolv technology and have exceptional flavor systems, shelf life, and most importantly are plant-based,” said Philip Bromley, CEO and Co- Founder at Virun. “These unique attributes enable Algarithm to support the incredible demand for omega 3s, sustainability, and solvent-free food and beverages, while making them the ideal partner.”
Kelly told us that the algae production is fully scaled up and that the supply of raw crude is supported by a depth of technology and capital – “We can provide up to 40 tons per week,” he said. The price is “very competitive”, he added.