Sapphire Energy Grows Leadership Team, Names Distinguished Biotech Expert as Senior VP of Product Management

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Sapphire Energy, Inc., one of the world's largest producers of renewable solutions from algae, today announced that Dr. Jim Astwood has joined the company as senior vice president of product management.  In this role, he will lead several of Sapphire's expanded business development efforts, with a near-term focus on applying its renewable algae-based technology to address a growing need for reliable sources of human nutraceuticals, animal/aquaculture feed, and more.

Dr. Astwood brings more than 20 years of research and development leadership, most recently with Aurora Algae where his work focused on the commercialization of valuable technologies from algae, and fostered partnerships with prominent companies in the health and nutraceutical industries.

"As an established world leader in advanced renewable algae technologies, Sapphire is moving forward with its vision of commercializing its technology through several end markets, including the production of Omega-3 oil products for markets worldwide," said James E. Levine, CEO and president of Sapphire Energy.  "Jim's extensive experience in product development, marketing, technology partnership development, and regulatory and product safety processes makes him a great addition to our team as we grow our business to address the global demand for nutritional ingredients."

Prior to Aurora Algae, Dr. Astwood served as vice president of scientific and government affairs at Martek Biosciences (now DSM Nutrition).  He was vice president of global nutrition and regulatory affairs at ConAgra foods, and began his career with the Monsanto Company, where he founded the Biotechnology Product Safety Center. He has served in numerous food and nutraceutical industry leadership roles throughout his career. Dr. Astwood holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural and Food Science and a BSc (Hon) in Genetics from the University of Manitoba, Canada.

About Sapphire Energy
Sapphire Energy is a venture capital backed company founded in 2007 for the purpose of growing and processing micro-algae into products that serve very large and diverse markets where the unique attributes of algae provide valuable solutions. The company's world-leading technology uses sunlight, CO2, non-potable water, non-arable land, nutrients, and novel strains of algae in outdoor ponds to produce biomass which can then be converted into high-value oils, aquaculture and animal feeds, fuels and other valuable products. Sapphire Energy's process is economic, scalable and sustainable as it doesn't compete for farmable land or fresh water, and absorbs and reuses CO2 emissions. For more information, visit www.sapphireenergy.com, www.twitter.com/SapphireEnergy, www.facebook.com/Sapphireenergy or www.youtube.com/user/SapphireEnergyVideo

SOURCE Sapphire Energy, Inc.

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