National Algae Association Releases Agenda for May 19, 2011 Conference

May 5, 2011 - PRLog -- In continuing its efforts to fast-track commercialization of algae production, the National Algae Association's next event on May 19, 2011 at BARD HOLDING, will focus on progress in growing, harvesting and extraction methods, along with proven technologies that are ready for commercial-scale algae production.  NOAH, Drexel University and CBO Financial have been added to the agenda, which also includes an update on NAA's newly created Algae Oil Specs Committee and a tour of the BARD facility.  Representatives from the University of New Hampshire, Millipore, BARD-ABS (JV), Aztek Solutions, Algae Venture Systems, Novak Druce and Solutions4CO2 are among the committed speakers. Fluid Imaging Technologies will provide free on-site algae oil analyses throughout the day.    

National Algae Association's Algae Oil Specs Committee, comprised of AgriFuels LLC, Intertek, Bruker, University of Connecticut, Lone Star Community College, Baker Hughes, Santa Fe Community College and SRS, in its mission to create standards for algae oil, has started to integrate existing methods and testing specs with algae oil and biomass to develop complete, accurate, current, and tested standard specifications and end-use fuel, chemical and USDA/FDA grade guidelines for use in this emerging industry.

NAA Executuive Director Barry Cohen recently said, "The time for commercialization is now...The problem in the emerging biofuels industry is not lack of research or technology.  One of the issues that has resulted from 50+ years of government-funded research is that the researchers are trying to either find or create the ‘perfect’ algae before going into production.  What they do not realize, or choose to ignore, is the fact that you may not be able to replicate on a commercial scale what you can create in a laboratory.  We know what works well now.  Why should we waste another 10 years waiting for some lab to decide that its species is the best of the best and for the years of arguments that are sure to follow, when we could be scaling up production now and deciding which is best later?"

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NAA's mission is to fast track commercialization of algae as an alternative fuel to reduce US dependency on foreign oil and to create jobs in the US by putting algae researchers, algae growers, farmers and producers, and equipment manufacturers together