Algafarm

Alga.farm is a company dedicated to producing sustainable, healthy, and fresh spirulina using highly efficient photobioreactors in the Netherlands, with the mission to promote better health for the planet and its inhabitants. Founded on January 1, 2016, originally under the name Spireaux, the company was established from a vision to address the inefficiencies of the current food industry. By developing photobioreactors, alga.farm cultivates spirulina more efficiently than traditional agriculture, aiming to provide proteins at significantly lower ecological costs. The company's roots trace back to Tim van Koolwijk's graduation project at TU Delft, where he first encountered spirulina in Indonesia. This inspired him and his wife to start Spireaux, initially in their living room with a single vase, before moving to the circular initiative "BlueCity" in Rotterdam. As their operations grew, they relocated to the greenhouses of Druivenkwekerij Nieuw Tuinzight, where they plan to scale up their algae production while maintaining the traditional grape nursery. Alga.farm has received recognition and support through awards such as the ASN World Prize, the sustainable Tuesday food prize, municipal subsidies from Rotterdam, and funding from the DOEN foundation, enabling them to refine their photobioreactor systems for spirulina in the Dutch climate. The company is currently focused on scaling up, improving their reactors, and seeking partners aligned with their vision to enhance sustainable global food production.