Aqua Biologics Food Science Bio-Technology
Home About Us Technology Bio-Technology International Contact Us
email: info@aquabiologics.com
In the News
 

NEPTUNE RECEIVES LETTER OF INTENT TO PURCHASE ENTO- PROTEIN™

BOCA RATON, FL. June 11, 2008
Neptune Industries, Inc. (OTCBB: NPDI), a world leader in the development of sustainable solutions for aquaculture, headquartered here, said today it has received a Letter of Intent to purchase over 40 tons per month of its Ento-Protein™, insect-based alternative to fishmeal from Zeigler Bros, Inc. of Gardners, PA.

Ento-Protein™ is a high quality sustainable protein derived from insects, which is intended to be a replacement for the rapidly depleting fishmeal made from wild caught feedstock species, for which there is currently a $7 billion worldwide market. Founded in 1935, privately held Ziegler Bros is a leading manufacturer of high quality animal feeds. Ziegler was one the first to manufacture feeds for aquaculture in 1955, the first to commercialize a stable form of vitamin C in 1988, and most recently the first developer of aquatic diets for use in biomedical research.

Neptune plans on opening the first of its production facilities in late 2008. Deliveries are expected to begin by the end of this calendar year, following the establishment of pilot operations.

Neptune CEO Ernest D. Papadoyianis characterized the Ziegler LOI as a “major step forward” for achieving product launch of Ento-Protein by the end of this year. He said, “The reception Neptune has received from around the world since introducing the product is extremely encouraging. Several other major feed producers have already requested samples and we expect more letters of intent to be forthcoming.

Papadoyianis said that recently issued guidelines and recommendations by the USDA Panel on organic standards for seafood, “Make me quite optimistic that standards will be promulgated for organic fishmeal. As the ‘first mover’ in this new product catagory, we have every reason to believe that Ento-Protein will then qualify for an organic designation.”

The company began a research and testing program for Ento-Protein with Mississippi State University in 2007, and recently completed it’s the third stage of validation trials. The company filed a provisional process patent in the Production and Processing of Select Insects into Protein Meal for Fish and Animal Diets in February 2006.

About Neptune Industries
Neptune Industries is a technology company which from inception has been committed to achieving sustainable, eco-friendly aquaculture by innovating and pioneering a "total and comprehensive integrated systems solution" approach to the mission critical challenges facing the Aquaculture Industry today. Dwindling supplies of wild caught stocks used for fishmeal, and the continued environmental damage, escapism, and disease caused by self-polluting net pen systems, have severely restricted Industry growth on a global basis.

Our mission is to utilize our expanding production operations base of all-natural, sustainable farm raised seafood products, as the working platform for the development of innovative, next-generation technologies to dissolve current industry bottlenecks. Further, our commitment is one of systems integration that targets “zero waste”. Fish, organic produce, and waste-to-energy systems synergize to form a production model with multi-revenue streams.

Thus far, the Company has applied for patents and has made significant progress in the development of three technology platforms, one of which its calls “Ento- Protein”; the second of which it calls “Aqua-Sphere”, and the third of which it calls “Aquaponics”. Taken together as components of a whole – this total integrated system solution approach addresses what the company believes to be THE three critical problems hindering the growth of the Aquaculture industry which will invariably cause it to fall increasingly short of growing world wide demand.

Aqua-Sphere™ is a state-of-the-art scalable, modular, floating closed containment system that is capable of concentrating and removing solid waste, eliminating predation and escapement, utilizing alternative energy for remote applications, and isolating crop from the environment.

Aquaponics is the existing practice of integrating fish and plant production through soil-less culture (hydroponics) using the waste effluent as fertilizer. Neptune has advanced the methodology through the use of the Aqua-Sphere™. The hydroponic system provides a revenue stream off of the waste component of the fish production through very high quality organic herbs and vegetables. In addition, as another part of the water treatment and Aquaponics system a derivative product of algae is grown in floating socks, which is 30x more productive than corn on a per acre basis, for the production of bio-diesel.

Finally to validate and test Neptune’s solutions and technologies, the Company operates a sustainable fish farming facility in Florida City, Florida called Blue Heron Aqua Farms, Inc. Blue Heron Aqua Farms currently is one of the leading producers of hybrid striped bass, which it markets nationally and internationally as Everglades Striped Bass™. For further information, please visit the Company’s website at: www.neptuneindustries.net

Company Contact:
Daniel Hickey
Tel: (646) 723-6262
Email: dhickey@neptuneindustries.net

Investor Relations Contact:
Ira Weingarten
Equity Communications
Tel: (805) 897-1880
Fax: (805) 897-1883
Email: ira@equitycommunication.com

Safe Harbor Statement
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements that include the words "believes", "expects", "anticipates" or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. This news release speaks as of the date first set forth above and the Company assumes no responsibility to update the information included herein for events occurring after the date hereof.

  
 
Aqua Biologics is a subsidary of Neptune

Biotechnology …has a wide range of useful applications in fisheries and aquaculture. It brings opportunities to increase growth rate in farmed species, boost the nutritional value of aquafeeds, improve fish health, help restore and protect environments, extend the range of aquatic species and, improve the management and conservation of wild stocks.
Food and Agriculture Organization
   of the United Nations.
 
  Bio-technology  
 

Ento-Protein™

A Sustainable Protein Source - Ento-protein™

Sustainable ProteinMany different sources of proteins have been explored to date. The difficulty in identifying a proper source arises from the requirement of most carnivorous species of a high quality animal-based protein source. Aqua Biologics, Inc. is now researching a high quality protein meal derived from insects, called Ento-protein™. Insects are naturally consumed in nature by most freshwater species, and represent one of the finest animal protein sources available. Controlled mass production of select insect species will produce a high quality, sustainable protein substitute for fish and livestock diets. Additionally, the controlled production of Ento-protein™ can provide an organic dietary source for certified organic seafood diets. The elimination of fishmeal from fish and animal diets has been one of the key issues at the forefront of U.S. Organic Standard certification. Organically certified seafood represents an enormous market for producers.

Aqua Biologics, Inc. has filed a patent on the production process of Ento-Protein™. Ento-Protein™ is a high quality dry protein meal created from commercially raised Sustainable Proteinand processed insects. Through a cooperative research effort with Mississippi State University, Aqua Biologics is in the process of selecting and testing various insect species for Ento-Protein’s™ commercial production. MSU was the pioneer in insect rearing methodology over 30 years ago, and remains one of the few Entomology programs worldwide to specialize in insect rearing. Research efforts began in April, 2007 with the first of three critical R & D stages.

The initial nutritional analyses have been very encouraging, producing profiles that the research team believes will provide s strong dietary substitute for fishmeal. Throughout the Fall and Winter of 2007, the Ento-protein™ research team will be testing the Ento-protein™ diet on fish for off-flavor analysis, diet acceptability, and growth.

Road to Commercial Development

Once the research has provided sufficient data to support fish growth and health, Aqua Biologics is prepared to move toward commercial development. An initial site will be sourced based upon favorable economic and climate conditions. A design and engineering team is already being assembled to map out the first production facility of its kind in the world.

Keys to Success

Developing a new, revolutionary product involves many important steps. The thorough completion of research and analysis of data is critical to the success of commercial operations. Identification of potential bottlenecks and anticipated solutions will be mapped and included in the business development strategy. Clearly the economics of mass insect production will play a major role in the commercial viability. Utilizing low-cost land, labor, and feed will be key components. As well, technology and automation of facilities to reduce manpower and increase production efficiency will inevitability influence cost.

Benefits to the Aquaculture Industry

As an industry, we must react now to head off a significant bottleneck in projected growth and market competitiveness. Sustainability of feed is critical to allowing unhindered growth of our industry, as well as to protect and nourish our world fisheries stocks.

All-natural and organic foods are producing 20%+ growth per year in the food industry. A more and more countries come on-line with Organic standards and certification, the aquaculture industry should see a genuine growth spurt. Once again, the use of sustainable, high quality, commercially produced protein that can be certified organic will be critical to allowing farmed seafood to compete in this market.

The broad diversity and body composition within the class of insects should allow dietary recipes to be created to generate species specific diets. It is anticipated that Ento-Protein™ will initially provide a necessary solution to sustainable, all-natural, and organic based fish and animal production. As the production process reaches full stride globally, it may provide a high quality protein meal for fish, livestock and human diets.

  
     
Home       .       About Us       .       Technology       .       Bio-technology       .       International       .       Contact Us
Copyright © 2007 - Aqua Biologics - All Rights Reserved