Symbrosia awarded competitive $256k Phase I Grant from the National Science Foundation
Kailua-Kona, HI, January 19, 2020 -- Symbrosia Inc has been awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant for $256,000 to further research and development efforts.
Symbrosia cultivates and distributes a livestock feed supplement composed of a red seaweed called Asparagopsis taxiformis. Peer-reviewed research has shown that when this seaweed is added to livestock feed at a 0.5% inclusion rate, the animals produce 90% less methane. Livestock digestion (enteric methane) is responsible for over 6% of total global greenhouse gas emissions. Those in the beef and dairy space are looking to reduce supply chain emissions as consumers and shareholders demand more sustainable alternatives.
“NSF is proud to support the technology of the future by thinking beyond incremental developments and funding the most creative, impactful ideas across all markets and areas of science and engineering,” said Andrea Belz, Division Director of the Division of Industrial Innovation and Partnerships at NSF. “With the support of our research funds, any deep technology startup or small business can guide basic science into meaningful solutions that address tremendous needs.”
The NSF funding will enable Symbrosia to continue research on this algae species with hopes of catalyzing market entry. The group plans to use this feed supplement to help farmers increase revenues, avoid incoming taxes on methane emissions, and become an increasing part of the solution to climate change. Research conducted within the scope of this grant will increase feed supplement’s quality and production sustainability. Once a small business is awarded a Phase I SBIR grant (up to $256,000), it becomes eligible for an additional non-dilutive Phase II (up to $1,000,000).
Based at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawai’i Authority (NELHA), Symbrosia is part of Hawaii’s blue economy. Seaweed aquaculture development in the United States is critical to meeting the growing demand for food, feed, and bioenergy. Further, the US currently imports over 90% of marine products -- a massive trade deficit. Seaweed is the fastest growing aquaculture product, estimated at $11.7 billion annually with a +7% CAGR. Relative to terrestrial crops, however, macroalgae cultivation is still in the early stages of development. Symbrosia’s work recognizes the need for more strategic management of macroalgae resources to overcome barriers in producing effective, high-quality products.
“We are proud to have our research efforts supported and further catalyzed by the National Science Foundation. Decades of successful commercialization of tech-rooted solutions by the NSF will undoubtedly help us get a product in the hands of users faster. ” Says Alexia Akbay, Co-Founder and CEO of Symbrosia.
About the NSF SBIR program
America’s Seed Fund powered by NSF awards $200 million annually to startups and small businesses, transforming scientific discovery into products and services with commercial and societal impact. Startups working across almost all areas of science and technology can receive up to $1.75 million to support research and development (R&D), helping de-risk technology for commercial success. America’s Seed Fund is congressionally mandated through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. The NSF is an independent federal agency with a budget of about $8.1 billion that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. For more information, visit seedfund.nsf.gov.
