Business Description
We are a world leader in the production of high value natural products derived
from microalgae. Incorporated in 1983, we are guided by the principle of providing
beneficial, quality microalgal products for health and human nutrition in a
sustainable, reliable and environmentally sensitive operation. We are GMP (Good
Manufacturing Practices) certified by the Natural Products Association™,
reinforcing our commitment to quality in our products, quality in our relationships
(with our customers, suppliers, employees and the communities we live in), and
quality of the environment in which we work. Our products include:
Hawaiian BioAstin® natural astaxanthin - a powerful dietary antioxidant
shown to support and maintain the body’s natural inflammatory response,
to enhance skin, and to support eye and joint health. It has expanding applications
as a human nutraceutical and functional food ingredient; and
Hawaiian Spirulina Pacifica® - a nutrient-rich dietary supplement used for
extra energy, a strengthened immune system, cardiovascular benefits and as a
source of antioxidant carotenoids
Microalgae are a diverse group of microscopic plants that have a wide range
of physiological and biochemical characteristics and contain, among other things,
high levels of natural protein, amino acids, vitamins, pigments and enzymes.
Microalgae have the following properties that make commercial production attractive:
(1) microalgae grow much faster than land grown plants, often up to 100 times
faster; (2) microalgae have uniform cell structures with no bark, stems, branches
or leaves, permitting easier extraction of products and higher utilization of
the microalgae cells; and (3) the cellular uniformity of microalgae makes it
practical to control the growing environment in order to optimize a particular
cell characteristic. Efficient and effective cultivation of microalgae requires
consistent light, warm temperatures, low rainfall and proper chemical balance
in a very nutrient-rich environment, free of environmental contaminants and
unwanted organisms. This is a challenge that has motivated us to design, develop
and implement proprietary production and harvesting technologies, systems and
processes in order to commercially produce human nutritional products derived
from microalgae.
Our production of these products at the 90-acre facility on the Kona Coast of
the island of Hawaii provides several benefits. We selected the Keahole Point
location in order to take advantage of relatively consistent warm temperatures,
sunshine and low levels of rainfall needed for optimal cultivation of microalgae.
This location also offers us access to cold deep ocean water, drawn from an
offshore depth of 2,000 feet, which we use in our Ocean-Chill Drying system
to eliminate the oxidative damage caused by standard drying techniques and as
a source of trace nutrients for microalgal cultures. The area is also designated
a Biosecure Zone, with tight control of organisms allowed into the area and
free of genetically modified organisms (GMO’s). We believe that our technology,
systems, processes and favorable growing location generally permit year-round
harvest of our microalgal products in a cost-effective manner.
Our Business
We operate entirely in one operating segment, the cultivation and production
of microalgae into high-value, high-quality natural health and nutrition products.
We cultivate, on a large-scale basis, two microalgal species from which our
two major product lines, natural astaxanthin products and spirulina products,
are derived. We record revenue and cost of sales information by product category,
but do not record operating expenses by such product category.
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