For agriculture and fertilizer manufacturers
We are working with co-development partners to use algal biomass recovered at water-treatment and aquaculture sites as fertilizer feedstock containing nitrogen and phosphorus, and as a soil amendment combined with oyster shell.
Talk to us about this industryCurrent stage
Development stage (seeking co-development partners)
Turning algal biomass into fertilizer feedstock, and a compound soil amendment of oyster shell and algal biochar, are at the stage of literature-based design and processing-equipment development. Registration as a fertilizer and guaranteed-composition labelling will be assessed later.
Challenges in this industry
Price and supply risk for fertilizer raw materials
Imported raw materials such as phosphorus face price swings and unstable supply.
Demand for circular and organic inputs
Buyers want inputs that recycle local resources and whose origin can be traced.
Soil acidification and declining fertility
More fields need soil improvement that also adjusts pH and supplies minerals.
What Novelgen can offer
Fertilizer feedstock from algal biomass
Nitrogen and phosphorus taken up by algae are recovered as biomass and used as fertilizer feedstock.
See details →Oyster shell × algal biochar soil amendment
We are studying a compound material combining the pH buffering of oyster shell with algal biochar.
See details →Quantifying environmental value
We intend to quantify environmental load using LCA (ISO 14040/14044) and MRV.
See details →Evidence and public information
The potential of microalgal biomass as a fertilizer and soil amendment, and improvements in yield and soil acidity from long-term application of oyster shell powder, are reported in peer-reviewed literature. Our evidence page organises these with full references.
References
- Osorio-Reyes J.G., et al. Microalgae-Based Biotechnology as Alternative Biofertilizers for Soil Enhancement and Carbon Footprint Reduction: Advantages and Implications. Marine Drugs, 2023, 21(2), 93. doi:10.3390/md21020093
- Long-term oyster shell powder applications increase crop yields and control soil acidity and cadmium in red soil drylands. Frontiers in Plant Science, 2025. doi:10.3389/fpls.2025.1506733
How a PoC works
- STEP 1
Discovery
We learn about the crops and uses you have in mind and the composition and form you need.
- STEP 2
Sample evaluation
We analyse algal biomass and oyster shell samples to confirm suitability.
- STEP 3
Small-scale application trials
We run small pot or field trials together.
- STEP 4
Product planning
We map a route to market including registration, volume production and supply.
What to prepare
- Soil or raw-material samples for evaluation (if available)
- Target crops and use (base fertilizer, top dressing, soil improvement, etc.)
- Required composition and form (N, P, K, pH, particle size, etc.)
- Whether pots or fields are available for trials
- Specifications of the existing products you compare against
Frequently asked questions
- Is it on sale as a fertilizer?
- No. It is currently at the research and development stage. Registration as a fertilizer and guaranteed-composition labelling will be decided after further evaluation.
- Will supply be stable?
- Algae are designed to be recovered continuously at water-treatment and aquaculture sites. Volume depends on the number and size of sites, so we plan it within the co-development.
- What kind of collaboration is possible?
- Co-development, joint evaluation, raw-material supply — let’s discuss what fits your goals.
- Is the environmental value assessed?
- We intend to assess it with LCA (ISO 14040/14044). Carbon fixation by oyster shell is assessed on a net basis that includes CO₂ released during calcification.
Note: this page is an overview based on public information. Technical details such as strains, cultivation conditions and individual test data are shared after a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) is signed.
Related pages
Aquaculture & seedling production
Stable supply of feed microalgae and land-based short-term fattening of oysters and other bivalves.
Industrial wastewater
Purify nitrogen- and phosphorus-rich industrial effluent with algae and recover it as a resource.
Anaerobic digestion (digestate)
Recover nitrogen and phosphorus from biogas-plant digestate with microalgae.
Talk to us about agriculture and fertilizer
We welcome enquiries about co-development, evaluation and raw materials.
Talk to us about this industry