Langkawi meet highlights potential of algae biomass
BY SALMINA BARVIN & TARINI ARUMUGAM
ALGAE biomass is an energy-rich feedstock that can help support our planet in a sustainable way.
Realising its full potential can only be achieved through collaboration, so several experts initiated an algae biotechnology research group.
The group also consists of algae researchers from around Asia.
Among those who put this fraternity together is Prof Ir Ts Dr Show Pau Loke of the University of Nottingham Malaysia with Associate Professor Dr Ooi Chien Wei of the International Bioprocessing Society, Assistant Professor Dr Chew Kit Wayne of Xiamen University Malaysia, and ChM Dr Khoo Kuan Shiong of UCSI University.
This fraternity has now grown to become the Algae Biotechnology Consortium (ABC) with twelve local and private universities in Malaysia; 14 international universities; one research institute; and three industry partners.
The consortium is on a mission to upscale the role of algae in food and energy production; nutrition, bioproducts, cosmetics, and ecological services that offer sustainable practices.
ABC’s partners will be involved in algae cultivation, biotechnology, storage and identification using artificial intelligence; and commercialisation of algae-based products in Asia.
This was announced recently at the launch of the 6th International Conference & Postgraduate Colloquium for Environmental Research (POCER) 2022.
POCER 2022 held from June 9-11 in Langkawi. More than 300 scientists, academicians, researchers, policymakers, policy players, and industry partners, from 100 different universities and 30 countries are expected at this event.
Organised by the University of Nottingham Malaysia (UNM), in collaboration with Human Life Advancement Foundation (HLAF), Xiamen University Malaysia (XMUM), UCSI University, and the International Bioprocessing Society (IBPROCS), POCER addressed a wide range of algae research.
Themed “The Green Industrial Revolution of the Next Decade”, some of the topics covered were biochemical engineering; biofuel and energy; carbon emission reduction; computational tools for environmental applications; renewal energy, IR4.0; process system engineering; and energy and environmental policy among others.
“ABC will be the first and only algae consortium in the world and we envision the ultimate utilisation of renewable aquatic source of algae for countless applications and products through this collaboration,” Show said during a media alert event recently.
He said Algae is a good source of renewable energy because of its rapid growth rate and its ability to be cultivated in wastewater or wasteland. Several companies and government agencies are making efforts to reduce capital expenses and operating costs and make algae fuel production commercially viable.
“As the co-chair of this research initiative together with 30 partners, we decided to form the Algae Biotechnology Consortium after having years of scientific findings and industrial exposures in algae upstream and downstream processing, to which we have seen the great potential of this feedstock as a future food and superfood to replace many conventional food crops,” Show added.
He also said that while gravitating toward algae research initiatives, all partners are confident of creating an impact on international communities and a solution for a sustainable future.
For further information on the conference, visit: https://www.nottingham.edu.my/Conferences/POCER/index.aspx
