FERMENTALG : DHA-rich oil produced using Fermentalg's proprietary technology passes the one-tonne mark

information fournie par Actusnews •04/05/2015 à 18:00

Press release – Libourne – 04 May 2015 – Fermentalg, an industrial biotechnology company that specializes in the production of oils and proteins derived from microalgae, has announced that it has passed the symbolic mark of one tonne of DHA-rich (Omega 3) oil produced using its patented technology for growing microalgae in a predominantly heterotrophic, mixotrophic environment.

The oil was produced at an industrial site adapted to the technology in 2 runs during the first days of April 2015. Fermentalg was also able to reduce the length of the batch production cycle by 10% to further improve its yield performance. All told, over two tonnes of dry biomass were produced, which contain around a tonne of DHA-rich oil that is currently being extracted bringing oil production to date to well over the tonne mark. This success confirms Fermentalg's robust technology and capacity to meet the industrial challenges of mass production ( scale-up ).

In line with the calendar presented at its IPO and confirmed on the publication of its yearly results for 2014, Fermentalg has begun the pre-commercial phase of its strategic roadmap in 2015. The pre-production run of DHA-rich oil will be delivered:

• to its current partner as part of a non-exclusive distribution agreement for the human nutrition market;

• to future end users as part of a series of marketing campaigns;

• to potential partners as part of talks to form new industrial and commercial partnerships.

This major pre-commercialization phase is being carried out alongside the construction of Fermentalg's new Industrial Development Unit (IDU) for which the symbolic 1 ^st stone was laid on 12 February. With a predicted initial production capacity of over 400 tonnes of microalgae oil per year, the first products manufactured at the new site are expected to go on sale from 2016.

For Pierre Calleja, Chairman and CEO of Fermentalg, "this is a major new milestone that has been reached in record time. Just 6 years after the creation of the company and even before we have our own industrial production facility, we have been able to prove the robust potential of our innovation, our stable processes and our capacity to progress to the next pre-industrial phase. These tests will allow us to accelerate the launch of our industrial unit and confirm our scheduled calendar of production from 2016. I am extremely proud of the work of our teams who have given us even more leeway to comfortably tackle the next stages in our development."

About Fermentalg

Founded in 2009 by Pierre Calleja, Fermentalg is an industrial biotechnology company that specializes in producing sustainable oils and proteins derived from the exceptional properties of microalgae. Its patented technology allows it to target a range of fast-growing global markets, from nutrition and animal feed to cosmetics and health, green chemistry and energy. Fermentalg has already signed its 1 ^st industrial and commercial joint-venture for the production of Omega-3 oils rich in EPA and DHA as well as several other partnerships with leading industrial groups. Fermentalg shares are listed on Euronext in Paris (FR0011271600 - FALG). For more information, visit the Fermentalg website at: www.fermentalg.com.