Greentech Lead Asia: Bio Architecture Lab (Bal), a biotechnology company that
converts seaweed into renewable chemicals and fuels, has signed partnership
with China’s Xunshan Group, a grower of brown seaweed and a global ocean
fishery and aquaculture company.
The Xunshan Group is a Chinese aquaculture company and
the largest producer of brown seaweed in the world. Xunshan engages in the
extraction of bio-products, such as alginate, sodium alginate, iodine,
mannitol, fucoidan, and seaweed fertilizers from seaweed. The company also
leads in the research, development, production, and sale of animal
pharmaceutical products and animal feed.
Under terms of the agreement, the companies will develop
an integrated seaweed bio-refinery to produce a low cost carbohydrate for the
production of renewable chemicals, fuels, animal feed and a variety of other
high value products using Xunshan’s seaweed and Bal’s conversion technology.
“Partnering with the Xunshan Group is a critical
step to accelerate our path to commercialization,” said Daniel Trunfio,
chairman and chief executive officer of Bio Architecture Lab. “This
agreement allows us to focus on our core strength — proprietary and patented
technology — while leveraging the expertise and global reach of the Xunshan
Group.”
“Bio Architecture Lab’s technology opens new markets
for seaweed production, and will help enable Xunshan to increase our production
and expand our business globally,” said Li Changqing, chairman of the
Xunshan Group. “Bal is the world leader in seaweed based conversion
technology and we are excited about our partnership.”
Coupled with Bal’s technology, seaweed is an ideal global
low cost feedstock for the commercial production of renewable chemicals and
fuels. In addition, to its vast abundance, seaweed does not require arable
land or freshwater to grow, and is environmentally friendly.
Bal and Xunshan are currently conducting feasibility
analyses of sites for both the integrated bio-refinery and a dedicated seaweed
farm along the coast of Shandong Province.