Algo by Biocene

Algal blooms are overgrowths of algae driven by agricultural runoff and industrial waste. They reduce oxygen in the water, block sunlight from aquatic life, and in some cases release harmful toxins, with cascading effects on entire ecosystems.

Biocene developed a mechanical device, internally called Algo, that harvests excess algae from affected water bodies and converts the resulting biomass into useful products including fertilizer, biofuel feedstock, and material for cosmetics and food applications.

The project was featured in the McGill Reporter and elsewhere on campus, and was a finalist in the McGill impact200 Bicentennial Student Sustainability Challenge. Technical details and project updates were hosted on biocene.ca.