SOUTH SIOUX CITY — A biotech firm and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln are partnering on a prototype project in South Sioux City that invovlves growing algae for use as commercial fish feed and biofuels.
Local leaders are scheduled to announce the venture between researchers at UNL and Clean Green Chesapeake of the Heartland at a news conference at 1:30 p.m. at City Hall.
The multi-phase project would tie into the city’s proposed new wastewater treatment plant, said Tami Bailey, the city’s grant administrator. An anerobic digester would capture the feedstocks to grow the algae.
A commercial tilapia farm would be established as part of the initial phase. Raising the fresh water fish locally would diversify the region’s agriculture industry and reduce the need to import from other regions of the country, Bailey said.
The fish would feed on the algae. In latter phases, backers also hope to turn algae into biodiesel or jet fuel.
Bailey said about five jobs are expected for the initial phases of the prototype. An additional 30 to 40 positions could be created as production is upscaled.
The Journal will be covering the 1:30 p.m. news conference. Watch siouxcityjournal.com for more details
Article source: http://siouxcityjournal.com/news/local/a1/south-sioux-city-project-aims-to-harvest-algae-fish/article_d2dd0d90-b479-5341-bbd0-d200eac5ba7c.html
