Euglena
1. What is Euglena?
1.1 Plant and animal:
The euglena is unique because it is sort of like a plant and also like an animal. It can
store energy by the means of photosynthesis like plants while it can also move
around like other microorganisms. Organisms that have both the features of plants
and animals are very rare in biology.It is pear shaped. It has a whippy tail called a
flagellum that allows it to move through the water.
1.2 Very tiny:
A euglena's body is only one cell, so they are very small and you must use a
microscope to see them. Sometimes, since they live in water, if there are millions of
euglena together, they form a mat on the surface of a pond or marsh that you can
see. It looks slimy, a lot like algae.
1.3 Eat green algae:
Euglena gracilis and other euglena are green because they eat green algae. They
keep the algae inside their bodies and use it to make their own food. These green
parts inside the Euglena's body are called chloroplasts. When Euglena gracilis doesn't
have enough light to make its own food, it looks for other things to eat. Swimming
around, it preys on other tiny organisms, such as amoeba and paramecium.
1.4 Nutrients and fuel:
Euglena which has features of both plants and animals contains 59 varieties of
nutrients, which is enough to cover most for human survival. Other, When euglena
grows through photosynthesis, it produces oil that can be used for biofuels. Since oil
derived from euglena is lighter than other algal oils, it is known to be more suited for
production of jet fuels.
2. History of Euglena Company:
2.1 Founder: Mitsuru Izumo
Mitsuru Izumo is Owner and Chief Executive Officer of Euglena, a venture capital
company spun off from a research laboratory at the University of Tokyo's Faculty of
Agriculture. In December 2005, Euglena became the first and only company in the
world to successfully mass culture euglena, a microscopic organism, in outdoor
conditions. Previously, he worked for the Bank of Tokyo Mistubishi. Izumo graduated
from the University of Tokyo's Agricultural and Life Sciences Department.
2.2 Motivation:
He went to Bangladesh in 1998 when he was a student of Tokyo University. There, he
saw real poverty and malnutrition and his goal to solve these problems was at the
heart of this company.
2.3 Development:
2000 year, after returning from Bangladesh, Izumo was introduced “euglena” from
current Director Suzuki, who was studying at Faculty of Agriculture in Tokyo
University at that time. But, the commercialization was believed to be distant.
In 2002, Izumo entered Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi Bank. He maintained his goal of
starting up a business using euglena.
In 2005, Izumo, Suzuki and Fukumoto established euglena Co., Ltd.. In December,
euglena Co., Ltd has succeeded in producing euglena outdoors at a commercial scale
with the support of laboratories in universities including Tokyo University.
3. Application
3.1 Human health
A well balanced diet is necessary for a healthy life. Euglena, microalgae that has the
features of both plants and animals, contains vitamins and minerals found in
vegetables and Omega-3s, DHA and EPA often found in fish.
List of 59 nutrients found in euglena
• Beta-carotene • Vitamin B1• Vitamin B2 • Vitamin B6
Vitamins
• Vitamin B12 • Vitamin C• Vitamin D • Vitamin E
• Vitamin K1 • Folic Acid• Niacin • Pantothenic acid
• Biotin • Alpha-carotene
Minerals
• Zinc • Phosphorus• Calcium • Magnesium
• Sodium • Potassium• Iron • Manganese• Copper
• Valine • Leucine • Isoleucine• Alanine • Arginine
•Lysine• Aspartic acid • Glutamic acid • Proline
Amino Acids
• Threonine • Methionine • Phenylalanine
• Histidine • Tyrosine • Tryptophan
• Glycine • Serine • Cystine
• DHA • EPA • Palmitoleic acid • Oleic acid• Linoleic acid
Fatty Acids
• Linolenic acid• Arachidonic acid• Eicosadienoic acid
• Dihomo γ- Linolenic acid• Docosatetraenoic acid
• Docosapentaenoic acid
Others
• Paramylum (ß-Glucan)• Chlorophyll • Lutein• Zeaxanthin • GABA

High digestion-absorption rate
Euglena contains vitamin C and folic acid rich in vegetables and Omega-3s and
Vitamin B1 rich in animals. Also, another major biological feature of euglena is that it
has a cell membrane instead of a cell wall found in most plants. A cell wall inhibits
digestion since it requires cellulase, an enzyme not found in the human body to be
decomposed. However, euglena is only surrounded by a cell membrane which allows
efficient digestion absorption.

A unique glucan “Paramylon”
“Paramylon” is a macromolecule of a Beta-1,3-glucan found only in euglena. It is
known to store the glucose produced by photosynthesis efficiently and its particles
are structured like a spiral tangled together. On its surface there are many
micro-holes that are said to be capable of take in cholesterol. It is non-digestible like
dietary fibers and it known to have much other functionality, which makes it a
functional food ingredient with high potential.
The structure of paramylon is very similar to that of charcoal. Charcoal is known for
its high performance as a deodorizer but this is because the many holes on the
surface of charcoal absorb the molecules that are causing the odor. Not only
paramylon can remove substances like fat from your body like charcoal removing
odor from the air but it can also reduce the intake of purines.
 Activates lactobacillus
Euglena is known to work well with lactobacillus, and a research shows that it has a
higher performance than oligosaccharides. The specimen with euglena extract
turned into yogurt in 18 hours but the other without the extract mostly remained
milk.

Euglena makes hair and skin healthy
Euglena can be used as cosmetics in addition to food. Euglena Co. has successfully
developed hydrolyzed euglena extract “Rejuna”.
Rejuna has shown various effects through testing, for example UV protection,
promotion of NHDF growth critical for a younger skin and promotion of formation of
collagen for a better skin. Not only euglena can improve your skin but it has the
capability to restore damaged hair as well. When human hair is damaged, it becomes
hydrophilic and the nutrients and moisture inside can get washed out; however,
euglena contains hydrophobic amino acids that prevents this from happening. Using
Rejuna, it is possible to manufacture facial cleansing, soap, skincare, hair care and
UV protection products.
3.2 Green technology

Water Treatment
One of the causes of the red tides that occur a few times each year in Tokyo bay is
the minerals (nitrogen, phosphorus) contained in the sewage. Since 2012, euglena Co.
has been working with Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of Sewage to
remove nitrogen and phosphorus from the sewage to return cleaner water to the
sea.

Utilizing CO2 emission
One of the features that make euglena special from other plants is its high carbon
capture capabilities. Euglena is capable of capturing CO2 per acre a few times more
than tropical rainforests which makes it highly capable of utilizing CO2 emitted from
industrial plants. In 2009, Euglena conducted an experiment to cultivate euglena
using emissions from a coal power plant with the cooperation of Okinawa Electric
Power Company and proved that euglena could be cultivated using emissions from
thermal power plants. In addition,euglena grew faster when emissions from thermal
power plants containing large amounts of CO2 were provided instead of air.
3.3 Energy

Euglena's oil formation is suited for jet fuels
A jet engine uses kerosene, which is lighter than diesel but heavier than gasoline. The
oil extracted and refined from euglena happens to be well suited to be refined in to
kerosene compared to other algal oils.

High productivity and efficient land use
Since euglena uses special equipment for cultivation, it does not compete over
farmland with food unlike biofuels derived from corn and sugarcane.
Productivity per acre is also significantly higher compared to many other feedstocks
4. Research & Business strategy
4.1 R&D strategy
Euglena Co. intends to develop five fields of business eventually. This is based on the
idea of “5Fs of biomass” which is to develop and produce commercial products from
food which has the highest value and commercialize into fiber, feed fertilizer and fuel
by developing technology reducing cost.
Currently Euglena Co. has commercialized euglena for cosmetics and food, which has
the highest value out of the 5Fs and Euglena Co. intend to commercialize the feed
and fuel business. Also paramylon, a substance only found euglena very unique
because it is insoluble in water and oil while having the capability to absorb water
and oil so application in face wash and films are possibilities.
4.2 Joint development partnerships
Euglena Co. conducts various researches concerning euglena in R&D center in “Tokyo
university entrepreneur plaza”, a venture incubation facility in Tokyo university and
production technology research center located in Ishigaki Island, Okinawa Prefecture
where euglena is being produced.
Euglena Co. also pursue joint research with Tokyo university, Osaka Prefecture
university, Kiniki university and university of Hyogo. Using the research results from
the joint research partner, Euglena Co. develops new business and production
technology.
Euglena Co. not limited to universities. Euglena Co. also join developing biojet fuel
with JX Nippon oil & energy Co. and Hitachi Ltd.. The feasibility of this business is
being studied by further developing euglena cultivation technology from us, refining
technology from JX Nippon oil & energy Co., and plant engineering technology from
Hitachi Ltd..
5. Strategy for the Future Market Environment
In addition to high expectations placed upon applications for Euglena as bio-jet fuels.
The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is a worldwide issue, and demands are
being placed upon the airline industry to come up with responses to help reduce the
carbon dioxide emitted by burning of fossil fuels. Against this backdrop, Japan Air
Lines Co., Ltd. and All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd. have made requests to JX Nippon Oil
& Energy Corporation, a major supplier of jet fuels, to develop bio-jet fuels. In
response to these requests, JX Nippon Oil & Energy and Hitachi Plant Technology
started joint research on manufacturing technologies for bio-jet fuels using Euglena
in September 2009. This research collaboration has targeted 2018 as the date for the
commercial launch of its new technology.
Bio-fuel is the only alternative fuel that can help to reduce carbon dioxides.
The technological credibility of bio-jet fuels was validated through test flights
performed from 2008 to 2009.
Strict standards are implemented for aviation fuel in line with the flight operating
conditions of airplanes.
Bio-jet fuel will be subject to and must pass the same strict standards for regular jet
fuels in order to be approved for use.
Alternatives to lessen the environmental burden are being considered in various
countries around the world and projects on a national scale are being launched.
While various materials are being considered around the world for possible use as
alternative fuels, the use of algae has taken the lead in the research and
development efforts within Japan. In May 2012, the "Microalgae Fuel Development
Promotion Committee" was established. And while several other companies besides
euglena are participating in this Committee, it is believed that Euglena has the most
superior qualities and is the most well suited microalgae for use as bio-fuels.
6. Conclusion
To long term, the ability to establish technologies for bio-jet fuels by 2018 also needs
to be monitored. At the current point in time, research and tests appear to be
progressing smoothly, and validation of progress in these areas should be confirmed.
Trends in the jet fuel market and crude oil prices also need to be watched closely.
And while declines in crude oil prices resulting from innovation in shale gas
technologies of the United States would be a negative factor for euglena's efforts,
the potential for government subsidies and preferential tax treatment is strong given
the need to secure "domestic sources of fuel" and could become a tail wind that
helps to offset volatility in crude oil prices. At the same time, these structural
measures could also contribute to the early introduction of bio-jet fuels by customers.
In addition to food, fiber, feed, and fuel, the potential use of Euglena as fertilizers is
also highly attractive.