ALGAE SUMMIT

About 800 researchers, executives and others from the algae industry are expected in Minneapolis this week for the annual summit sponsored by the Algal Biomass Organization, a St. Paul-based trade group.

Background: Algae has been produced mainly for nutraceuticals. Now, companies are working on technologies to produce algae-based fuels, feeds and other products. Federal agencies have awarded grants and loan guarantees to support algae biofuels, and the military says it is interested.

Notable speakers: Harrison Dillon, president of Solazyme, a San Francisco-based algae company that raised nearly $200 million in an initial stock offering in May; Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken of Minnesota; and Cynthia Warner, president of San Diego-based Sapphire Energy, which is building a large algae-for-fuels project in New Mexico.

Details: Monday-Thursday at the Hyatt Regency; panels range from algae biology to venture financing. Registration fee.

Web: algaebiomasssummit.org

Twitter updates: #ABS11.