Our company has a unique and distinctive experience in designing and operating different microalgae cultivation technologies, both for freshwater and marine microalgae, ranging from open to closed systems. The research and development team has developed extensive industry knowledge which allows us to produce more than 10 different types of microalgae genera.

After several years of research and development in the Portuguese Catholic University, Necton was established in 1997. As microalgae need sunlight, the company was set on an ideal location to grow those organisms – the South of Portugal (Europe).

Since its establishment, Necton has been located in a 23 ha salt marsh in the Natural Park of Ria Formosa.

Apart from the microalgae production facility, this fortunate location impelled the start-up of another business in the year 2000. The company began to exploit the salt marshes to obtain sea salt and “flor de sal” just like the Romans did. At this moment, Necton operates two different business units: Microalgae Business Unit and Salt Business Unit.

The history of Necton is above all based on a creative endeavour that has resulted in several new businesses. Some more successful than the others! The company Alnatural was created in 1996 with the primal purpose of using a microalgae extract in the formulation of a sun protection cream. Even though creams were excellent, as they only used natural ingredients in their formulation, the business was soon wiped out from the market by pharmaceuticals products. Another spin-out of Necton, Alangulata, dedicated to cultivation of Portuguese oyster, was established in 2005 and is still in operation. More recently, in the year 2007, another spin-out A4F was created to develop and deliver bioengineering projects for the industrial production of microalgae.

Let us go forward in this battle fortified by conviction that those who labour in the service of a great and good cause will never fail.

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