Using seaweed in hair products

Cargill has been quick to get involved in the growing interest in the natural personal care market.

Studies show that the natural personal care market grew by nearly 15 percent annually between 2005 and 2010, compared to 4 percent for the overall market. Growth is strong in all regions, with Brazil leading the charge. In Europe, the largest region, Germany is the most developed market for natural beauty products. 

Cargill has developed an ingredient from seaweed which can be used in hair products to add texture. Beatural is can be used to develop beauty products made with natural polymers. This technology was originally used in food texturisers to the personal care category.

Marie-Laure Roumiguière, Pharma & Personal Care Category Manager at Cargill, discusses the shape of the market and how it is changing.

More information...

English: Hair gel. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Cosmetics from IMTA kelp

A new cosmetic product made from IMTA seaweeds is causing a stir. Exsymol S.A.M., Monaco, has been working with Dr Theirry Chopin, an IMTA expert based in Canada to develop a multi-use product from the kelp, Alaria esculenta. The kelp is grown at the IMTA sites of Cooke Aquaculture Inc. in the Bay of Fundy. Exsymtal® has a variety of applications based on its anti-aging, anti-pollution/anti-stress, dermis filler and dermis renewal properties.
More information...

Kelp (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Event: Olmix Symposium

Food product development from algae is being overlooked in France


"We want to work!" 


That was a comment from Mrs Christine le Tennier, who was a speaker at the 1st Olmix one-day international symposium on 'Algae - The Blue Revolution for a Sustainable Chemistry' in Pontivy, France, that received spontaneous applause from the 250-plus delegates.


"It's ridiculous not to have greater access to the shore line to produce more," she says.


While French coastal waters are some of the best in the world for cultivating algae and seaweeds, "we are having to import seaweed extracts at €20 per kg when we should be producing and exporting ourselves."

Mrs Christine le Tennier, general manager of PDG, which produces a variety of food products from algae at the reception promoting here's and other foods from algae at the Olmix Sympodium in Pontivy, France

She says that Asia is leading the way in the development and consumption of seaweed- and algae-based food products despite the French coast line having some of the best waters in the world for algae and seaweed production.


"We have already lost too much time to Asia - let us work together," was her message to the audience when told there were politicians and others of influence listening.


"We have been in business 26 years and we have not had little support for our product developments."


She told the audience that no one of influence has paid attention to the development of new and innovative food products, such as those being produced by her company from seaweeds which she refers to as seaveg. In fact she recalled that many smiled politely in the early years when she began developing foods from algae and seaweeds which today are widely produced and consumed in Asia.

Symposium chairman Pierre Erwes acknowledged that innovation was the way forward for the algae processing industry in France and asked Mrs le Tennier for her views.

Mrs le Tennier says that to prosper the region itself  had to link with successful and profitable companies and support the marketing of their products. In particular she saw an opportunity to bring together oyster and other shell fish farmers with horticultural farmers in order bring about the development of vegetable-like food products from the sea.

"Farmers on the land know how to grow plants in soil. Oyster farmers don't but they do know the seabed." The two working together could revolutionise the production of edible sea plants but to achieve that traditional barriers between the two sectors had to be abolished, she claims.

The symposium delegates were treated to a variety of 'seaveg' products at an evening reception to widespread approval. 

Using marine products in animal feeds

Using land-based materials such as soybeans in marine feeds is fairly common practice but what about the other way round?  What benefits can marine products have in animal feed?

The University College Cork, Ireland has published research into using seaweed extracts in pork diets.  Scientists found that the addition of Laminaria digitata improved the quality and shelf-life of fresh pork.  Read more...

An iteroparous organism is one that can undergo many reproductive events throughout its lifetime. The pig is an example of an iteroparous organism (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Eat seaweed to stay slim

Seaweed bread helps slimming says research.  Scientists from Sheffield Hallam University, UK found that men who ate seaweed bread for breakfast consumed 179 fewer calories a day.  The seaweed replicates the taste of salt but contains much less sodium.  A low-sodium diet also reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke.  Read more...

TomCorser Seaweed 2 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

BioMarine Participants: Olivier Bourtourault

Olivier Bourtourault is the Founder of Aleor, a French SME developing seaweeds culture and processing in Brittany, France. Engineer specialised in Biology, he has studied in France and Japan before creating Aleor in 2007, which developed patented processes for seaweeds off-shore culture and processing. It offers leading quality products and services for the cosmetics and food companies, and also is a partner with energetics and waste management companies.

If you're good at French, check out the Aleor website here.

The community and environmental benefits of growing algae

Hello, 

This story caught my eye today.  Fishermen in Palawan, Philippines have diversified from fishing to growing algae.   

The benefit of the move is twofold.  Firstly, the coastal communities have an alternative source of income and are no longer dependent on fish.  

Secondly, the project is also helping to restore Palawan's waters and wildlife which were badly affected by cyanide fishing.

palawan (Photo credit: sehmaschine)