HAMPTON, VA — U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm announced that Pancopia, Inc. will receive two grants totaling $400,000 to develop new water purification systems for aquaculture and livestock management. The grants are among 259 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) awards given by the Department of Energy to small businesses nationwide.
Advancing American Aquaculture
The first Phase I SBIR grant will enhance water treatment technology used in the aquaculture industry. Over the past 20 years, recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) have revolutionized the seafood industry by maximizing water reuse and enabling fish to be raised far from traditional water sources like lakes, rivers, and oceans. However, current technology cannot adequately remove the taste and odor compounds that accumulate in recycling systems, costing producers millions annually.
Pancopia will receive $200,000 to develop an efficient, low-cost advanced oxidation and filtration system to remove these difficult contaminants—opening the door for American aquaculture operations in communities nationwide, including landlocked areas that have never before had access to this industry.
Supporting Livestock Operations
The second $200,000 grant will support development of water treatment systems for livestock operations, building on Pancopia's award-winning work with USDA on nutrient and odor management. Animal agriculture produces five to ten times more nutrient waste than human systems—waste that today drives health issues, air-quality problems, and lost performance. Pancopia's technology accelerates natural processes to recover water and nutrients, helping farms unlock value inside their largest waste streams while reducing operating costs.
"These grants will permit Pancopia to extend our proven approach to new applications," said Bill Cumbie, company founder and CEO. "We're grateful to partner with Virginia Tech's Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center (SAREC) in Hampton on the aquaculture work. These opportunities build on our ongoing collaborations with NASA, USDA, and DOE to bring space-heritage technology down to Earth where it can make the biggest impact."
Local Support
Hampton Mayor Donnie Tuck noted that the city is proud to have nurtured Pancopia as it has grown over the years. "We're excited about the world-changing technologies being developed here in Hampton," Mayor Tuck said. "The city continues to support businesses like Pancopia that are improving both our economy and our environment."
"Supporting small businesses will ensure we are tapping into all of America's talent to develop clean energy technologies that will help us tackle the climate crisis," said Steve Binkley, Acting Director of the DOE's Office of Science. "DOE's investments will enable these economic engines to optimize and commercialize their breakthroughs, while developing the next generation of science leaders."
More information about all projects announced by DOE is available at: https://science.osti.gov/sbir
About Pancopia
Pancopia, Inc. is an environmental technology company headquartered in Hampton, Virginia. The company accelerates natural processes to recover water and nutrients in animal agriculture, helping farms unlock value inside their largest waste streams while reducing operating costs. Pancopia's technology began with NASA's life-support systems for space exploration and is now being commercialized for municipal and agricultural applications. The company has received two National Excellence in Technology Transfer awards from the Federal Laboratory Consortium for its work with NASA and USDA. For more information, visit www.pancopia.com.
Media Contact:
William Cumbie
Pancopia, Inc.
bill@pancopia.com
Hampton, Virginia
