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We turned a wild seaweedinto a crop.

Algal Tech has developed a disruptive aeroponic technology to produce a new, delicious and nutritious sea vegetable — Aonori — as an ingredient, using salt water and non-arable land in a controlled-environment system.

Our mission is to make highly nutritious fresh and dried sea vegetables, with a mild umami taste, available to mass markets as a key new super ingredient.

  • Patent-pending applications and trade secrets
Close view of Aonori — Ulva clathrata — a vivid green marine vegetable.
Vegetable protein
25%
Dietary fiber
40%
Minerals
24%

Dry weight

GrowingControlled-environment aeroponic system

Grown in air, not in soil.

Patent-pending aeroponic system

Culture period

10months a year

Aeroponics is the process of growing plants — in this case marine — in an air environment, without soil, with a direct supply of essential nutrients through a fertilized seawater spray, which also provides the CO₂ they need to grow.

Through a scientific understanding of algal physiology, and extensive scientific and engineering collaboration, Algal Tech has gained significant knowledge and advantages over two existing approaches: the harvest of wild seaweeds, and aquatic culture — algae floating in water, at sea or in inland ponds.

01
Control
Greater control of the nutritional properties of the algae.
02
Consistency
Greater consistency in quality and nutritional composition.
03
Volume
Reliable production volumes throughout the culture period.
04
Cleanliness
Growing under greenhouse cover prevents contamination by insects, bacteria and dust.
05
Water
Grown using pristine cold water from the Pacific Ocean.
06
Standards
Meets international sustainability standards.

Does not containBy design

  • Genetically modified organisms
  • Processing additives, preservatives, dyes and flavorings
  • Monosodium glutamate
  • Pesticides, herbicides, insecticides and fungicides

It does not pollute the environment, and it conserves fresh water and fertile agricultural land.

Composition

What 100 grams contains.

Protein, fiber and minerals in a single biomass, in proportions that are set by the culture rather than inherited from a season.

All figures dry weightLaboratory panel

Vegetable protein
25%
Biologically complete amino-acid profile, with all essential amino acids present.
Dietary fiber
40%
≈25% soluble · ≈15% insoluble.
Minerals
24%
Highly bioavailable, marine-derived.
Years of R&D
20+
Multidisciplinary technology development.

Minerals

Per 100 g dry weight

Each mineral is set against the food usually prescribed for it — 100 g dry against 100 g as eaten. A density comparison, not a serving. Aonori is dried, so part of every ratio is simply the absence of water.

Magnesium21,000 mg/100 g
40×pumpkin seeds
Calcium1,900 mg/100 g
15×milk
Potassium1,250 mg/100 g
3.5×bananas
Iron210 mg/100 g
78×spinach

Vitamins

  • Provitamin A
  • B12
  • C
  • E
  • K
  • Folic acid

Including B12, which plant sources rarely supply.

Pigments

Lutein
≈80% of the lipid fraction
Antioxidant. Protects the eyes and skin, and is associated with prevention of age-related vision loss.
Beta-carotene
Carotenoid
Antioxidant and a precursor to vitamin A.
Chlorophyll
Pigment
Associated with detoxification and reduced odor.

BenefitsA functional food

Nutrition, and then some.

A functional food gives health benefits beyond the provision of basic nutrients. These are the properties reported for Aonori and for its constituent compounds.

  1. 01

    Diabetes

    Diets high in soluble fiber give better outcomes for people with diabetes, by reducing the glycemic index of the foods it is formulated into. Aonori is also a good source of magnesium.

  2. 02

    Cholesterol

    Soluble fiber can reduce serum cholesterol. Ulvan, the soluble fiber in Aonori, is among the most effective polysaccharides studied for cholesterol reduction, and the alga also carries plant sterols.

  3. 03

    Obesity

    Aonori can affect fat accumulation by reducing the glycemic index of the foods it is formulated into, and contributes an anti-obesity effect through its cysteinolic acid content.

  4. 04

    Antiviral

    Antiviral effects have been reported, both from the soluble fiber ulvan and from other constituents.

  5. 05

    Anti-inflammatory

    Anti-inflammatory effects have been reported, attributed to sterol content.

  6. 06

    Prebiotic

    Soluble fiber promotes the abundance of beneficial gut bacteria, giving greater resistance to disease bacteria and a general improvement in digestive function.

Dietary fiber intake

Recommended
25–35 g/day
US adult average
13–20 g/day

The minimum daily dietary fiber intake is 25 to 35 grams in healthy adults. The current average intake among adults in the United States is 13 to 20 grams a day.

UsesSuggestions for use

A new ingredient, offered B2B.

Our model is to offer our products B2B as high-value new ingredients for existing products and for new flavor and line extensions.

  1. 01

    Nutraceuticals

    Dietary supplements.

  2. 02

    Functional foods

    Nutrition bars, juices and smoothies.

  3. 03

    Alternative protein

    Plant-protein foods.

SpecimenAs supplied

Dried and milled Aonori. A desaturated marine green — not the deep matcha of a pigment-corrected powder.

A low pile of dried, milled Aonori — a fine, matte, sage-green powder.
Dried and milledAonori

TeamManagement

Who built it.

Leadership04

  • 01

    Armando León

    Co-founder & CEO

    Corporate and startup international work. 22 years of experience in the domestication and co-cultivation of sea algae.

    Portrait of Armando León
  • 02

    Benjamín Moll

    Co-founder & CTO

    Over 40 years of experience in biotechnology. An inventor with 10 patents related to photosynthesis of algae and seaweed farming technology.

    Portrait of Benjamín Moll
  • 03

    Javier Echevarría

    Co-founder & CFO

    12 years' experience in finance and M&A deals across various industries, among them agribusiness.

    Portrait of Javier Echevarría
  • 04

    José García

    Co-founder & CMO

    20 years of experience in sales and business development of new products in the food industry.

    Portrait of José García

ContactMéxico

Talk to us.

Aonori is offered B2B as a new ingredient. Write to us about supply, samples or a formulation you are working on, and we will come back to you.

Inquiries answered in English or SpanishPacific time

Write to Algal Tech