Algae: A Biofuel Breakthrough If Euglena has its way, algae will become the fuel of the future. The name of this Tokyo-based company comes from the product it sells: the algae Euglena gracilis. Euglena's business is focused on five key areas: food, fibre, feed, fertilizer, and fuel. The firm is also investigating the use of algae for pharmaceuticals. The company has been successful in developing food and cosmetics using algae and is now making its mark in the biofuel industry. As carbon emissions become an increasing problem-particularly for countries like Canade, the United States, China, and India-governments are looking toward biofuels as an alternative fuel source. Research has shown that the algae in which Euglena specializes has strong potential for biofuel production. Euglena oversees all aspects of the process, including cultivation of the algae and the refining and marketing of the fuel. A strategic alliance with Isuzu Motors has allowed Euglena to successfully mix its algae biofuel with light oil to power city buses. However, Euglena is determined to create its own algae biofuel that will not require oil and further reduce carbon emissions. The company is working with other businesses to develop algae-based jet fuel. These partnerships have allowed Euglena to build the nation's first algae biofuel refinery, which it estimates will produce 125,000 litres of jet fuel yearly. Euglena has certainly attracted the attention of investors, but any promising breakthrough brings competition. ExxonMobil has partnered with Synthetic Genomics to investigate algae biofuels, and others are trying to create biofuels from garbage. The biofuel industry is growing globally, requiring firms like Euglena to remain innovative as competition heats up