More than 80% of wastewater is untreated discharge, polluting water sources, according to the UN. At the same
time, 3.5 billion people lack safe sanitation. One of the Sustainable
Development Goals is to improve water quality by halving the proportion of
untreated wastewater and substantially increasing its recycling and safe reuse
worldwide by 2030. Only 41% of Mexican municipalities did some type of
treatment on at least part of their wastewater, reports the National Institute
of Statistics and Geography.
Faced with this environmental and
public health problem, Ramón Alejandro de Hoyos Cantú, a graduate in Genomic
Biotechnology from the University of Nuevo León, Mexico, decided to take
inspiration from nature to find a solution. His answer was to use microalgae
capable of cleaning water, capturing the CO2 that warms our planet while
synthesizing molecules with high economic value through his biotech start-up,
ALIS. For this commitment to the circular bioeconomy and sustainability, MIT
Technology Review in Spanish has selected De Hoyos as one of the Innovators
under 35 Latin America 2023.
"Microalgae breathe CO2 and
release oxygen. By feeding on pollutants in the water, they clean it and
generate high-value molecules useful for the cosmetics and food industry,"
explains De Hoyos, adding, "Our containers with the microorganisms can be
used to restore any body of water while achieving valuable substances for the
market."
ALIS thus attacks the lack of water
recirculation due to poor purification with natural circular bioeconomy
systems that reduce water pollution and favor its reuse. In addition, with this
initiative De Hoyos provides natural alternatives to the colorants and
antioxidants used by the cosmetics and food industry. "Our pink extract
replaces five toxic elements that are used in numerous products that we ingest
and put on our bodies," he adds.
The biotech company already has
clients interested in its products and is working with public institutions to
achieve clean water in Mexico. After certifying its processes, De Hoyos seeks
to expand the company on a large scale in all continents to increase the
availability of drinking water and achieve healthier and more sustainable
cosmetics and food.
