Aquaculture
Algae contain all the key nutrients to supply a sustainable aquaculture industry
![](https://www.pondtech.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Micro.png)
Microalgae like Spirulina and Chlorella are the true source of most nutrients on Earth, forming the base of the food pyramid in oceans, lakes, and rivers
![](https://www.pondtech.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Protein.png)
Algae is a far superior feed ingredient compared to corn & soy as it can contain up to 70% protein and is rich in omega fatty acids and antioxidants
![](https://www.pondtech.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Fishing.png)
Algae production at scale can alleviate widespread overfishing for anchovies and other feeder fish used in industrial fish farming
The Aquaculture Market
![](https://www.pondtech.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Substantial-g@0.5x.png)
Market Size
$108 billion USD in 2017
(total aqua feed market)
![](https://www.pondtech.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Picking-up-Steam-g@0.5x.png)
Annual Growth Rate
10%
(total aqua feed market)
![](https://www.pondtech.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/PondTech-Dollar-Bills.png)
Price Per Tonne
$1,400-$1,800 USD
(bulk fish meal)
![](https://www.pondtech.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/PondTech-Gavel.png)
Regulatory
New bans on some synthetic additives like ethoxyquin in the EU & Chile driving demand for natural ingredients and antioxidants derived from algae
Pond & Aquaculture
- Fish and crustaceans have evolved to digest algae and algae-eating organisms, so feeding them algae-based feed can be beneficial to the health and growth rates of farmed fish vis a vis corn or soy-based feed
Pond has successfully grown multiple strains of algae for use in fish feed
1. Pond-grown Chlorella strain contains >55% protein and is rich in α-Linolenic acid (ALA), Lutein, and Astaxanthin.
2.
3. Pond-grown Haematococcus algae can contain up to 5% Astaxanthin which can serve as a natural preservative of lipid-based fish feed.
Pond has demonstrated growth rates for Spirulina and Chlorella that surpass other technologies by 20-50x at its pilot plant in St. Mary’s, Ontario- Pond’s modular design allows us to build and scale a facility at any industrial site providing supply security for fishmeal producers who currently rely on volatile and declining harvests wild fish stocks
Algae addresses Food Security & Ocean Health
- As of 2011, people consume more farmed fish than beef
- Demand for meat-based protein is growing as tens of millions enter the middle-class in growing economies like China or India
- At the same time, overfishing of feeder fish like anchovies and sardines has reduced global fishmeal supply by 33% in the last 2 decades
- Upon mass-adoption, Pond algae plants could alleviate some pressure on ocean ecosystems and provide a stable, reliable source of high-quality protein and nutrients
- Algae has also been found to increase milk production in cows and could be used as a substitute during climate change-induced feed shortages
- Fish2.0 provides a great investor overview of innovation in fish feed and highlights algae as a key building block of sustainable aquaculture
Pond Algae is a Superior, Sustainable Feed
- Algae
contains up to 2x and 8x more protein than soy and corn, respectively. - Algae protein is more readily absorbed into animal and human bodies while soy, the main fish meal substitute, is deficient in several essential amino acids (especially methionine and lysine).
- Both corn and soy require vast amounts of land, water, and energy for fertilizers and farm equipment.
- The main challenge to date has been growing cost-competitive algae at scale, without the need for vast amounts of land and water. Pond’s technology addresses these challenges. Learn more on our tech page.
- A Pond system powered by a new natural gas power plant can produce carbon-neutral protein, requires near-zero water for operations, and 1000x less land compared to soy or corn. The Pond plant could even reduce carbon in the atmosphere if it was powered renewable energy!
T GHG EMITTED PER T FEED | 0.58 |
PROTEIN CONTENT | 35% |
T GHG PER T PROTEIN PRODUCED | 1.657 |
TONNES OF PROTEIN PER ACRE | 4.1 |
ASSUMPTIONS |
– 1 tonne of soy (from a weighted average of Canadian soy crops) produces 580 kg CO2eq -52.5 bu yield per acre -27 kg per bu soy |
T GHG EMITTED PER T FEED | 0.30 |
PROTEIN CONTENT | 9% |
T GHG PER T PROTEIN PRODUCED | 3.311 |
TONNES OF PROTEIN PER ACRE | 0.2 |
ASSUMPTIONS | – 1 tonne of corn grain (for animal feed from Ontario corn) produces 243 to 353 kg CO2eq – 5,845 kg corn per hectare |
T GHG EMITTED PER T FEED | -0.02 |
PROTEIN CONTENT | 65% (2x compared to soy; 7x compared to corn) |
T GHG PER T PROTEIN PRODUCED | -0.034 (carbon neutral) |
TONNES OF PROTEIN PER ACRE | 4340 (>1000x land productivity) |
ASSUMPTIONS | – 4,500,000 L unit – Growth rate: 4 g/L/day – Energy intensity: 0.6 W/L – Power – 4,400 t Spirulina produced – 1.82 t CO2 abated per t algae |
T GHG EMITTED PER T FEED | -1.77 |
PROTEIN CONTENT | 65% |
T GHG PER T PROTEIN PRODUCED | -2.725 (sequesters carbon) |
TONNES OF PROTEIN PER ACRE | 4340 |
ASSUMPTIONS |
– Power – All other assumptions same as Pond Algae |