Cawthron Institute and Supreme Biotechnologies sign Research and Technology Agreement

Private Equity funded company, Supreme Biotechnologies, has partnered with Nelson-based Cawthron Institute to conduct a research programme aimed at identifying and extracting high value compounds from algae for the global market, announced Gill Wratt Cawthron CEO.

As part of the deal Supreme Biotechnologies will utilise Cawthron's modular enclosed algae farming system, which it has developed over 15 years. It will be the first time large scale algal farming has been attempted using this technology. Algae is generally grown and harvested in open ponds or expensive enclosed bioreactors.

Science project leader Dr. Mike Packer says the algae farms will utilise waste CO2, water, and heat from an industrial facility to help grow algae, an added benefit to the environment.

The project builds on a successful feasibility study jointly funded by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology and Supreme Biotechnologies. The partnership will commercialise high value products identified in Cawthron's unique and extensive algal collection and elsewhere. Nutrizeal, which own and operate a supercritical fluid extraction facility in Nelson, will work with Supreme Biotechnologies to extract and market the product.

Funding sourced by Supreme Biotechnologies will provide for the construction of a pilot plant and commercial scale algae farm over the next few months.

Paul Collins of Supreme says "People have invested in Supreme for two reasons - they believe in our management team, our long term vision to build a global biotech company using algae as a vector, and in the capabilities of our partners; Cawthron Institute and Nutrizeal, both of whom have garnered world class reputations in their respective fields."

"Creating the capacity and capability to produce high value products the market wants is essential for global growth. This project combines NZ's niche, world class skills in the research, production and processing of algae and starts a process we believe will create a lot of value for New Zealand exports and jobs."

For more information:

Mark Jarvis
Business Development Manager
Cawthron Institute
P:03 539 3254

Paul Collins
Operations Director
Supreme Biotechnologies New Zealand Limited
P: 027 326 4843