AlgaEnergy becomes first to certify cyanobacteria-free microalgae for EU ag use

AlgaEnergy has received European Union certification for a microalgae biomass product free of cyanobacteria, making it the first company to achieve such recognition under the EU Fertilising Products Regulation. The certification, granted by an auditor authorized by the European Commission, allows the biomass to be used in CE-marked agricultural inputs such as biostimulants and soil amendments.

The designation places microalgae, long viewed as a niche input, into the regulatory mainstream for agricultural use in Europe. It comes at a time when fertilizer producers are under pressure to offer more sustainable, traceable inputs.

“This certificate is a validation of the quality, safety, and versatility of our microalgae biomass, as well as our pioneering technologies used to produce it,” said Estefanía Hinarejos Esteve, Director of Regulatory and Product Development at AlgaEnergy.

The Spanish biotechnology firm has expanded its footprint globally in recent years and is now part of the De Sangosse Group, a France-based company specializing in biosolutions. It operates across five continents and supplies biological inputs to more than five million farmers.

The newly certified biomass follows another recent milestone from the company: the launch of what it says is the first biostimulant approved to improve the quality of Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Together, the certifications signal growing regulatory acceptance of algae-based technologies in conventional farming.

AlgaEnergy’s certification may provide a competitive advantage as the EU’s Green Deal and Farm to Fork Strategy encourage alternatives to chemical fertilizers. Industry analysts expect demand for biological inputs to rise in response to stricter environmental rules and consumer interest in sustainable agriculture.