Lab-lab, a colloquial term for algae mat, is an excellent source of organic nutrition for aquafeeds. It is a biological combination of complex microscopic plants which uncontrollably grows in fish ponds. As one of the most important aquaculture products in terms of volume, a significant effect in the aquaculture industry is observed whenever there are developments in milkfish (or bangus in Filipino) culture.

Unlike many other algal species, the potential of aquafeeds from lab-lab is not yet realizable because of their inapplicability of year-round cultivation due to the relatively longer rainy and typhoon season in the country. During this period, lab-lab is prematurely depleted due to overgrazing, poor water conditions, or to persistent inclement weather.

A company recognizes the challenge of harvesting and drying of the lab-lab biomass who wants to utilize the biomass material all year-round under different weather conditions. The development of a lab-lab harvester and dryer would address this problem, and would significantly help the viability of using lab-lab for fish feeds and other applications through the whole industry value-chain. Main beneficiaries of this project are the aquaculture industry, especially the milkfish breeders.

The Collaborative Research and Development to Leverage Philippine Economy (CRADLE) Grant of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has funded the Project entitled “Development of a Cost-Competitive Aquafeed from Lab-lab”. This 18-month project (July 2018 – December 2019) is implemented by De La Salle University, Center for Engineering and Sustainable Development Research (CESDR), in partnership with Santeh Feeds Corporation, and monitored by the DOST Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD). Project site is located in Hagonoy, Bulacan, Philippines.

The Algae BioInnovation Global Hub provides the platform for a strong collaboration among the industry, academe, civil society, government and investors related to algae research, development, innovation, and application and start-up enterprise.