For many years, algae was a bit of an underdog and didn’t get the attention it deserved for its superpower abilities. But, it’s quickly rising the ranks, with entrepreneurs and scientists discovering the many amazing applications of the aquatic plant, from being a natural source of plant-based nutrients to a game-changing ingredient for sustainable alternative proteins and even eco-friendly clothing. 

Seaweed is the name given to the many species of marine algae and plants that grow in water bodies such as rivers, seas and oceans. They range in colors from red, green, brown and black and also vary in size, from microscopic to large underwater forests. Seaweed is found on the shores across the world but is more commonly a staple in Asian countries. 

No matter if you cook it or consume it raw, seaweeds are a power pack of nutrients like iron, zinc, magnesium, riboflavin, thiamin, vitamin A, B, C & K etc. To give algae the spotlight, some startups are doing fantastic things. Check them out 

Naka Foods

Indian startup Naka Foods upgraded your typical energy bar with superfood algae spirulina – an ingredient packed with protein, vitamins, iron and amino acids. Their product, called the 4pm Bar, is bursting with so many nutrients that it’s comparable to the amount in an entire bowl full of fresh fruits and vegetables.

But Naka Foods isn’t stopping at energy bars, they are also developing plant-based chicken using algae too. Though it’s still under development, their new plant-based chicken analogue is made from spirulina, jackfruit and chickpeas, and has even set its sights on using the super seaweed to make a plant-based fish product too.

Founded by Kushal Aradhya, the work to develop these solutions started back in 2015 with the support of a government-aided business incubator. By January 2016, the company was incorporated as Naka Foods and six months later, it developed its first product partnering with scientists from India’s Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CFTRI). 

New Wave Foods

Plant-based seafood maker New Wave Foods, which has just reeled in US$18 million in fresh capital, is about to launch its first product on the market – plant-based shrimp. What’s the secret? Again, it’s algae! 

While the exact ingredients of its shrimp substitute still haven’t been disclosed, the food tech did reveal that its product will be made from seaweed and non-GMO plant proteins, which gives its “virtually indistinguishable” taste and texture. 

SeaCell 

SeaCell is a type of seaweed fabric and it is made by the Florida-based corporation, Nanonnic Incorporated. No farming or animal use is involved in the innovative and progressive seaweed fabric, Seacell. It comes from a resource that is in abundance in our oceans, namely seaweed. 

The properties of seaweed make it an inherently healthy source for skin-friendly fibers and become the fabric from the ocean. SeaCell is made by mixing cellulose with seaweed to create a yarn. It locks the properties of seaweed into a wearable fabric and becomes what is SeaCell fabric.

Update Foods 

It’s pretty hard to miss all the plant-based dairy alternatives now stocked in your local supermarket, from almond to soy and oat milk. But have you ever heard of algae milk? 

A brand new French startup called Update Foods is now creating the “perfect vegan milk” using fava beans and oil extracted from algae and says that their unique combination can compete on taste, texture, appearance, nutrition and cost of real dairy milk.

It is vegan-friendly, cruelty-free and more sustainable than its animal counterparts. Update Foods says that algae milk boasts an impressive nutritional profile – a good source of fiber, low in saturated fat and sodium while being rich in protein and molybdenum, an essential micronutrient that aids in the process of DNA and helps break down toxins among other functions.