In this age of the algaepreneur, a potent economic development tool has been introduced to nurture emerging algae growers and algae harvesting and equipment manufacturers into healthy small businesses — the "algae production incubator."
WHAT IS AN ALGAE PRODUCTION INCUBATOR?
Some of America's greatest business resources lie in the effective redeployment of existing assets. Many emerging algae growers can operate and grow with a minimum of space as long as they have access to centralized harvesting and extraction services. The costs can be staggering on an individual basis, but far more conducive on a shared services basis.
The National Algae Association’s Algae Production Incubator Program is the first of its kind. NAA has identified landowners whose properties include a combination of acreage, water, and in some cases CO2,and rail to the property. In return for a small percentage of the equity in a company, the landowners will, for a period one year, ‘lease’ an acre to an algae producer so the producer can scale up and test his/her growing system. NAA is working with harvesting and extraction equipment manufacturers to arrange equipment leases with each producer paying its pro rata share. If, at the end of the year, the algae producer is ready to continue to scale, additional acreage and services can be provided.
Potential markets:
Jet Fuel Nutraceutical
Green Diesel Pharmaceutical
Biodiesel Cosmetics
Biogasoline Organic Fertilizer
Bioplastics Livestock, Poultry and Fish Feed
