At present, new players Aurora Algae and AlgaeBio (both producing biomass in autotrophic open ponds) have not yet progressed to commercialization with final products on the shelf. Aurora Algae’s crude algal oil prototype contains 65% EPA and is intended for use in the pharmaceutical, animal feed, as well as heath food and beverage sectors (Aurora Algae Online, 2011). These prototypes have been dis­tributed to potential customers and, according to Van Der Meulen, Aurora Algae has already “signed multiple letters of intent with key players across the industry” (Watson, 2011b). Bob Thompson, chairman of AlgaeBio, believes that they have a competitive economic advantage in terms of production costs. Between their patent, proprietary information, and intellectual property, they can “produce a wide array of high-value, algae-based products at a fraction of the cost” compared with their competitors (Watson, 2011b). There is still a lack of information available on the potential products in the pipeline.

The University of Almeria (Spain) has developed an outdoor tubular photobioreac­tor process for producing “high-purity” 96% EPA from Phaeodactylum tricornutum. The total cost of production of the esterified oil occurs at US$4,602 kg-1, with an estimated yield of 430 kg yr-1 (Molina-Grima, 2003). Some 60% of this cost is attributable to the recovery process, and the remaining 40% accounts for biomass production costs. The total cost still needs to be reduced by 80% to be economi­cally feasible. The most common lipid extraction methods include oil press, solvent extraction, super-critical fluid extraction, and ultrasound (Harun et al., 2010). Solvent extraction is the most common method employed in the recovery of fatty acids from microalgae (Belarbi et al., 2000).

Solazyme-Roquette has created “high-lipid algal flour” (Daniells, 2011), intended for use as a main ingredient alternative to make healthier processed foods such as chocolate milk (4.5% algal flour), frozen desserts, and even low-calorie salad dress­ings. Household names such as Unilever, Nestle, and Abbott Laboratories are a few companies jumping onto the “omega-3 bandwagon.” A fast-moving consumer goods company, Unilever has invested in a multimillion-dollar deal with Solazyme Inc. to potentially replace palm oil with algal oil as a sustainable alternative in products such as food, soaps, and lotions (Sonne, 2010).

PUFAs in general aid in the prevention and treatment of scaly dermatitis and skin dehydration (Kim et al., 2008). Ethanolic or supercritical CO2 extracts are gaining commercial recognition in lipid-based creams and lotions as a result of their nourish­ing and protective effects on the skin. In progressing skin care research, glycol — and phospholipids should be given special attention (Pulz and Gross, 2004). Novel and innovative cost-effective technologies are the way to satisfy the growing demands of the health-conscious consumer.