Yemoja opens new sustainable plant for microalgae production

Image courtesy of Yemoja

Yemoja, Ltd. (Tel Hai, Israel)-a cultivator of microalgae for food, nutraceutical, and cosmetic applications-opened a new, sustainable microalgae plant in the Upper Galilee region of Israel. Yemoja’s new indoor facility uses fast-track photobioreactor technology in a closed, contaminant-free system in which it maintains control of temperature, pH, light, and CO2 emissions to produce a broad spectrum of pure algae. 

“We built a green factory in which we can create and maintain the ultimate conditions for any known microalgae species with zero dependence on external environment and weather,” explained Erez Ashkenazi, COO and co-founder of Yemoja, in a press release. “Our indoor system generates exceptional yields with proven reproducibility on a very small plot of land and using minimal resources.”

The company’s small-batch production line uses illis-vertical luminescent columns that are each allocated a specific algae species. 

“Our unique site runs on recycled water and minimal energy,” Ashkenazi said. “The exploitation of artificial light for photosynthesis limits the need for cooling. We meticulously designed the site to meet to the highest standards of operational efficiency in order to minimize our environmental impact. Our specialty ingredients are cultivated in a chemical-free, all-natural process, with a full respect of our natural habitat.”

Eyal Shalmon, CEO of Yemoja, said in a press release that the company recently received a lot of interest in its external polysaccharide sulphate (EPS) Porphyridium cruentum. “The polysaccharide has been investigated for its ability to be merged into various biotechnological applications and industry disciplines including, cosmetics and biomedicine,” Shalmon said. “The soluble polysaccharide fraction is already being used in skincare products and in a considerable number of cosmetic formulations due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.”