DIC to expand production capacity for Linablue

Japan-based DIC is planning to enhance its production capacity of its American subsidiary Earthrise Nutritionals for Linablue, a natural blue food colouring derived from edible algae spirulina.

The company will be investing approximately $13m for this project. In 2013, it invested nearly $10m for its first expansion.

The new facilities are scheduled to commence commercial operations in 2018. The planned increase in production capacity has not been divulged by the company.

Earthrise Nutritionals produces and sells spirulina with an annual yield of approximately 500t.

In 2013, Earthrise Nutritionals secured approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), for its phycocyanin, the blue food colouring extracted from spirulina.

Since then, the demand for phycocyanin has increased especially in the Americas and Europe, which have seen a rapid shift in consumer demand toward natural food colourings.

Earthrise’s production capabilities for spirulina also ensure the safety and quality of its products.

The company holds certifications from the global accreditation organisations, which includes Food Safety System Certification (FSSC) 22000 in 2016.

The DIC Group is also seeking to obtain FSSC 22000 certification for its spirulina production facility at Hainan Island, China.

DIC currently holds a 90% share of the global market share for spirulina-derived food colouring.  With this capacity expansion project, the company is planning to take a 100% market share.

DIC is also exploring different ways to extract the other remaining pigments in the spirulina biomass after the blue pigment has been removed.