Micro-algae biostimulant to increase the productivity and taste of melon

For the second year in a row, an independent study conducted by the iMiDRA has demonstrated the effectiveness of AlgaEnergy's micro-algae biostimulants in melon cultivation. 

"The trial, which was designed with statistical significance and carried out by the prestigious agro-food research center, shows that, compared to other biostimulant treatments, the application of AgriAlgae® leads to a bigger increase in melon production and the improvement of the fruit's quality. This study confirms the data obtained in a first trial that was also carried out by the iMiDRA last year," said Fernando Vares Orive, from the communication department of Alga Energy.

"The Madrid Institute for Rural, Agrarian and Food Research and Development (iMiDRA) concluded that the results obtained by AgriAlgae® microalgae agricultural bioestimulants are much better than those obtained by rest of the biostimulants commonly used in the market," he said. 

The trial, which was designed by the iMiDRA and carried out in its own facilities at the Experimental Farm "La Isla" (Madrid), compared the effects of AgriAlgae® on melon with those obtained by products based on animal amino acids and macroalgae, as well as with control treatments (basic fertilization without biostimulant treatment).

The iMiDRA study shows that the plots treated with this biostimulant had a higher kilogram per hectare crop yield. Total production obtained was up to 12.3% higher than with the rest of the treatments. 

"The data obtained regarding the commercial production, i.e. the total production minus the waste, was specially relevant. Biostimulant treatments in general increased commercial production, but the commercial performance of the plots treated with AgriAlgae® was not only the best, but also increased by 7 to 10% more than the other biostimulant treatments in the market. The use of this biostimulant also resulted in a greater first quality production, that is, it obtained a higher percentage of melons with a greater weight and without imperfections than the other treatments," stated Fernando Vares. 

"The average fruit weight obtained, a parameter that is of the utmost importance to farmers, in the plots that used this product was 5 to 8% higher than with other treatments," he continued.

Carlos Rodriguez-Villa, the General Director of AlgaEnergy, said that "the fact that an institution as serious and prestigious as the iMiDRA confirms these positive statistical data for a second consecutive year is very important for AlgaEnergy, as it highlights the effectiveness of our microalgae biostimulants. We can offer farmers an unique product, thanks to the first quality raw material that we produce ourselves -the microalgae- by controlling all the variables and the UPT® technology developed exclusively by AlgaEnergy," Rodriguez -Villa said.

The test conducted by the iMiDRA also reflects the good results obtained by this product in qualitative terms. In a blind tasting conducted by a panel composed of a hundred consumers, the melons from the plots treated with AgriAlgae® obtained the best score, with an average score of 7.09 out of 10, compared to the score of 6.76. and 6.59 obtained by the other three treatments. The tasting included the assessment of the fruit's sweetness, juiciness, firmness of the flesh, and the its global quality.

Rodriguez-Villa highlighted these results, pointing out that "obtaining a higher production and a better quality is especially relevant in the current context, in which final consumers are increasingly more demanding and want fruits with better organoleptic properties. These demands are transferred to the producer sector and therefore to the suppliers of inputs," he said.

AlgaEnergy is a biotechnology-based company founded in 2007, which consolidates the deep knowledge in Spain of microalgae science, generated by universities over the past 4 decades. It collaborates with more than 120 companies in the field of research, has had Iberdrola as a shareholder since 2009, and has designed, built and operated the most advanced and pioneering microalgae cultivation plants worldwide. The European Commission has selected it as one of the SMEs with the greatest growth potential in Europe and strategic importance for the continent. In addition, its activity and developments have positioned it as an international benchmark.

Due to their biochemical richness and their advantages over other raw materials used by the traditional agricultural industry, microalgae are of great interest to develop products in very diverse sectors. The agricultural biostimulants obtained through the controlled production of various strains of microalgae have been developed over the last 8 years, and since 2015 they have been successfully marketed.

For more information about the activities, research lines, references and history of AlgaEnergy, you can visit www.agrialgae.es.