Visions of our Future from the International Algae Competition
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – September 20, 2011.
Imagine living in cities where buildings are covered with photosynthetic membranes and vertical gardens, collecting the sun’s energy and producing food for urban citizens. Imagine greening desert coastlines and producing food for millions of people, and recycling agricultural wastes into animal feed and biofertilizers.
Future visions like these, harnessing the promise of algae, 30 times more productive than terrestrial plants, are being submitted to the International Algae competition by architects, designers, engineers, entrepreneurs, students and teams from across the globe. Registrants from 22 countries are already submitting some amazing entries.
Algae Competition objectives are to create an open source collaboratory that expands and shares a vision for algae in our future with design ideas for algae production landscapes, sustainable and affordable algae production systems (APS) for food, medicines, feed, energy, nutrients, water remediation, carbon capture and new algae foods.
Open to everyone: algae enthusiasts, architects, builders, entrepreneurs, designers, scientists, growers, food developers, cooks, students and teams. Registration is online at www.algaecompetition.com, the official website with all details and guidelines. Registration and submission deadline is October 11, 2011. Finalists will be announced February 12, 2012. Entries will be judged by panels of international jurors. The Competition has three tracks:
Track 1: Algae Landscape Design: How will algae production be integrated into future landscapes, farms and communities and what will they look like and how will they work?
Track 2: Algae Production Systems: What are the best designs, engineering and systems for algae production to work economically on a community scale or distributed model?
Track 3: Algae Food Development: What will be the next algae foods and recipes and the future uses of algae as a food and feed ingredient that will transform our health?
As an open source competition, all entries will be showcased online. Over $10,000 in cash prizes will be awarded to winners. Finalists will receive international media recognition and will be included in books, publications and exhibitions to be held around the world in 2012.
Background: The International Algae Competition was founded by Robert Henrikson and Mark Edwards of the Algae Alliance (AlgaeAlliance.com).
Robert Henrikson is a business entrepreneur with over 30 years in sustainable development of algae, bamboo and forest carbon. Algae bioneer, author of the book “Spirulina World Food”, former President of Earthrise Spirulina, and founder of Earthrise Farms. Consultant on algae, products, branding, sales, marketing and media strategy. Created the 2007 International Bamboo Building Design Competition, with registrants from 64 countries, and published the book “Bamboo Architecture” based on the competition.
Mark Edwards, PhD, is Professor of Strategic Marketing and Sustainability at W.P. Carey School of Business, Arizona State University. Known internationally for inventions in advanced metrics. Consults, speaks and does R&D globally on sustainable and affordable food and energy production with algae. Authored over 100 academic papers and 12 books including a business and science best-seller. “Green Algae Strategy” was awarded the “2009 Best Science Book” by Independent Publishers.
Website: AlgaeCompetition.com. Social Media: Algae Competition on Facebook and YouTube.
