euglena Co., a Japanese company, has achieved certification against the standard for its farm producing microalgae on Ishigaki island in Okinawa, Japan, following an audit by Amita, an independent third-party Conformity Assessment Body (CAB). The certification means that euglena Co. are minimising the environmental impacts of their farm, and operating in a way that is beneficial to workers and local communities.

The company mainly produces two species of microalgae, known as Euglena and Chlorella, at its on-shore production facility in Ishigaki, and researches and promotes a number of uses for the micro-organisms containing various kind of nutrients such as vitamins and amino acids. As well as selling a number of health food and cosmetics, euglena Co. are researching the use of oil extracted from the microalgae as jet and diesel fuel, with plans for producing and supplying them for practical use in commercial aviation and public transport, demonstrating the many and varied uses of algae products.

The microalgae produced at the newly-certified farm could have many  applications, including as an environmentally-friendly feed for both aquaculture and agriculture. Its high carbon capture capability may also render it useful in green technology.

“The innovative use of seaweed and microalgae has huge potential to contribute to food security, a healthy ocean and the achievement of several of the Sustainable Development Goals more broadly,” said Rupert Howes, CEO of the MSC. “I congratulate euglena Co. on becoming the first entity in the world to achieve ASC-MSC certification and very much hope this is just the beginning of a widespread engagement by the sector.”

The ASC-MSC Seaweed Standard sets a number of requirements for seaweed harvesting and farming practices rewarding sustainable and socially responsible seaweed and algae production.