Arizona’s public universities drive algae innovation

Arizona’s leadership in algae research and commercialization was on display this week as the 19th Algae Biomass Summit brought global biotech executives, policymakers and researchers to Arizona State University. Arizona Board of Regents member Jessica Pacheco delivered the keynote address, focused on policy pathways for algae commercialization.

The event was an opportunity to showcase how Arizona’s public universities are advancing algae science to address climate resilience, sustainable agriculture and the circular bioeconomy. Pacheco emphasized Arizona’s position as a national leader in biotechnology research. With more than 900,000 acres of irrigated farmland and a robust university research infrastructure, Arizona is uniquely equipped to drive innovation in algae and bioscience. 

“Algae-based industries could create new jobs in biotechnology, energy and agriculture, positioning Arizona as a hub for green innovation,” Pacheco said. “Arizona’s long-term prosperity depends on innovation, energy diversification and hyper-growth in advanced manufacturing. Our universities are uniquely positioned to leverage research expertise in algae, water and related fields to provide practical innovations and elevate Arizona’s ability to be sustainable for years to come.” 

At ASU, the Arizona Center for Algae Technology and Innovation (AzCATI) has become a national center for algae-based technologies, supporting research in biofuels, wastewater treatment, crop protection and nutraceuticals. Since its launch in 2010 with a $4 million grant from Science Foundation Arizona, AzCATI has grown its research portfolio to more than $35 million in federal, state and private funding. 

Recent collaborations include a partnership with Phoenix-based MyLand, using native microalgae to improve soil health and water efficiency for Arizona farmers. Thanks to a grant administered through the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona, the project will provide free access to a nature-based soil health technology across thousands of acres of Arizona's commercial farmland. This effort aims to enhance water efficiency, reduce water consumption and improve water quality in the state's agriculture sector.

Northern Arizona University’s recent study, published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and in collaboration with the University of California Berkeley, reveals how a single-celled diatom called Epithemia and its bacterial partner efficiently convert atmospheric nitrogen into food, fueling river ecosystems without fertilizers or pollution. This natural nutrient exchange not only sustains aquatic life but could inspire technologies for cleaner biofuels, pollution-free fertilizers and crops that produce their own nitrogen, cutting costs for farmers and reducing environmental impact.

University of Arizona researchers are pioneering the use of marine algae called coccolithophores to capture and store atmospheric carbon dioxide at scale. By growing these single-celled algae, which naturally form stable, chalk-like shells from carbon and calcium, the team aims to trap massive amounts of carbon and help curb climate change. Their approach leverages the principles of Earth’s carbon cycle, offering a potentially scalable solution for carbon removal that would overcome some of the limitations of existing technologies, such as chemical filtration techniques, which are difficult to scale up because they are energy intensive and often require rare minerals.

With more than 40 algae-related enterprises statewide and a collaborative approach across its public universities, Arizona is emerging as a global driver of renewable energy research and the bioeconomy. The 2025 Algae Biomass Summit underscored Arizona’s public universities’ commitment to innovation, workforce development and sustainable solutions for a low-carbon future.