Japan’s ANA Holdings, parent of ANA airline, has invested in AlgaleX Inc., a biotech company that uses AI cultivation technology to produce edible algae and run its BioFarm business.

At the core of its technology is “Touji-24,” an AI cultivation control system that predicts and optimises growth conditions in real time. This lets it use inconsistent inputs, including food waste, as culture media turning underused resources into high-value nutrients.

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In the food sector, AlgaleX already produces and commercialises “Umamo,” an edible algae containing 13 times the DHA of mackerel on a per-gram basis while delivering savoury ‘umami’ flavour,

“ANA HD recognizes AlgaleX has built something rare: a technology that solves a real societal problem while creating durable economic value,” said Yoshiaki Tsuda, Executive Vice President, Director of Future Creation Hub of ANA HD. “Its AI-driven cultivation platform is both powerful and adaptable, and the team pairs an ambitious vision with a proven ability to execute in the lab and in the market. ANA HD believes that algae technology born in Okinawa can become part of how the world feeds itself, and we aim to support AlgaleX’s future business development.”