Cyanotech Corporation produces high-value natural ingredients and dietary supplement products through the cultivation of microalgae. The company specializes in sustainable aquaculture practices at its 96-acre facility located on the Kona Coast of Hawaii, leveraging consistent sunlight, warm temperatures, and access to deep ocean water. Its operations focus on creating premium health and nutrition offerings derived from two primary microalgal species.
Cyanotech generates…
Cyanotech Corporation produces high-value natural ingredients and dietary supplement products through the cultivation of microalgae. The company specializes in sustainable aquaculture practices at its 96-acre facility located on the Kona Coast of Hawaii, leveraging consistent sunlight, warm temperatures, and access to deep ocean water. Its operations focus on creating premium health and nutrition offerings derived from two primary microalgal species.
Cyanotech generates revenue from the sale of natural astaxanthin products, spirulina products, and contract extraction and research and development services. Its flagship branded products include BioAstin® Hawaiian Astaxanthin® and Hawaiian Spirulina Pacifica®, which are sold as packaged consumer goods through Nutrex Hawaii to distributors, retailers, and online channels, as well as in bulk form to manufacturers. The company also provides third-party contract manufacturing for encapsulation and packaging of its finished goods, while utilizing its supercritical carbon dioxide extraction system to offer fee-based services to external astaxanthin biomass producers.
The company operates through the following segments:
- Natural astaxanthin products: This segment involves the cultivation and processing of Haematococcus pluvialis microalgae to produce BioAstin®, a natural antioxidant available in gelcap, gummy, and liquid lipid forms. BioAstin® holds multiple third-party certifications including iGen Non-GMO, Gluten Free, Glyphosate Free, Informed Choice, Halal, and Vegan.org. The product is marketed for supporting skin, eye, joint, brain, and immune health.
- Spirulina products: This segment focuses on the production of Hawaiian Spirulina Pacifica®, a nutrient-rich superfood derived from Arthrospira platensis, offered in powder, tablet, and gummy formats. Hawaiian Spirulina Pacifica® is certified as Non-GMO Project verified, Kosher, Halal, Gluten Free, Glyphosate Free, and Vegan, and holds a Class A safety rating from the United States Pharmacopeia’s Dietary Supplement Information Expert Committee. It is promoted as a source of protein, vitamins, essential amino acids, and phytonutrients for daily supplementation.
- Contract extraction and research and development services: This segment provides supercritical carbon dioxide extraction services to third-party astaxanthin biomass producers using the company’s 1,000 bar system, alongside R&D support for microalgae cultivation and product development. These services leverage excess production capacity and technical expertise in microalgal systems to generate ancillary revenue streams.
Cyanotech holds a leadership position in the premium microalgae-derived ingredients market, particularly as one of the largest global producers of spirulina and the sole producer of spirulina in Hawaii. The company differentiates itself through proprietary technologies such as the PhytoDome Closed Culture System for contamination-free astaxanthin cultivation and the Ocean-Chill Drying process that preserves nutrient integrity by minimizing oxidative damage. Its competitive advantages include its biosecure GMO-free growing environment, vertical integration from cultivation to finished product, and access to deep ocean water rich in trace nutrients, which enhances both product quality and operational sustainability.
Cyanotech serves a diverse customer base consisting of natural product distributors, health food retailers, online merchants, and direct-to-consumer buyers through its Nutrex Hawaii subsidiary. Internationally, the company supplies bulk spirulina powder and tablets to health food manufacturers and formulators who incorporate the ingredient into their own branded products for distribution in regional markets. Major customers include private label producers in Europe and Asia, while in the United States, distribution occurs through established natural product chains and e-commerce platforms. The company also maintains exclusive sales partnerships in select international territories for both its branded and private label offerings.