Cultivating food security from lowly microalgae

Oscar Lumen doesn’t fit the mold of a typical executive but he typifies the dynamism of the Filipino youth in terms of identifying opportunity and immediately grabbing hold of it.

A director at the US subsidiary of the Japanese trading giant Kitra Corporation and an early investor in the US-based biotech firm TrueAlgae, Lumen splits his life between food exports and agricultural innovation.

“It’s a lot of work but incredibly interesting and rewarding… never boring,” Lumen shared during a recent interview on DAILY TRIBUNE’s online show Straight Talk.

His journey into farm technology began with TrueAlgae, a company producing microalgae-based solutions designed to revolutionize global agriculture.

“We are engaged in expanding our global footprint in agritechnology and biotech sectors to address what we call glocal issues,” Lumen said.

At the heart of TrueAlgae’s technology is Chlorella, a strain of microalgae. Applied to soil or foliage, it activates a plant’s microbiome, improving soil health and increasing yield.

“We mass produce this through a patented system designed by our Korean founder. What we like to call ‘metabolic water’ is the output — 100,000 liters a year from a modular 15-square-meter system,” he explained.

It’s a surprisingly cost-efficient process. “For under $1 million, we can build a production unit. If you want more, add fiberglass tubes.”

Their first breakthrough? Strawberry farms in Florida. “From trials to early sales, we proved substantial improvements in yield,” Lumen said. “I strongly feel this is a game changer in local agriculture — especially now, when fertilizer costs are so high due to global instability.”

TrueAlgae’s model mimics Coca-Cola’s — centralized technology, decentralized production.

“We want to build localized production facilities across the globe. Importing water-based solutions doesn’t make economic sense.”

Lumen’s commitment to TrueAlgae is matched only by his work with Kitra Corporation, a Japanese trading firm headquartered in Osaka. Their core business revolves around importing and exporting food and beverage products — mostly Japanese-made.

“Our catalog has over 1,000 stock-keeping units (SKUs) — everything from rice crackers to premium whiskeys,” he said. “We’re in grocery chains across Metro Manila. We don’t sell online, but we work closely with major retailers.”

Lumen first encountered Kitra’s founder in Manila back in 2017 while working on a nanotechnology project. Their shared interest in engineering solutions for energy efficiency in buildings laid the foundation for future collaboration.

When the pandemic hit, the Kitra founder offered him a leadership role for the US subsidiary.

“He told me, ‘Even during the lockdown, people still need to eat and drink.’ That’s how I got involved.”

Despite juggling multiple ventures — TrueAlgae, Kitra, and earlier, a nanotech company in Manila — Lumen saw a synergy.

Sensible pick

“Eventually, it made sense to choose. Today, it’s TrueAlgae and Kitra.”

Lumen’s career has always straddled science and business. He lived in Washington, D.C. for a decade, working in what is now called fintech. That experience — plus a chance meeting in 2017 with former colleagues — led him to algae.

“I said, ‘What do I know about algae?’ But they said I knew something about entrepreneurship and legal structure.” That initial coffee meeting launched his deep dive into biology, leading him to consult with UP Diliman professors.

“Algae is the building block of the ecosystem,” one professor told him. “There are billions of strains, many with commercial and scientific applications – from biofuels to pharmaceuticals.”

TrueAlgae’s solution is already gaining ground in the US, and Lumen is now working to bring it to the Philippines. He’s in talks with the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards and the Bureau of Plant Industry.

“Our trials show effectiveness across crops — from berries to corn, even avocado and poultry feed. It’s universally applicable.”

While his roles demand what he jokingly calls “25 hours and 8 days a week,” Lumen remains focused on solutions.

“We’re here to address food security, climate change, and ways to scale green technologies. That’s what drives me.”

From algae labs to supermarket aisles, Oscar Lumen is living proof that Filipino leadership can thrive at the intersection of science and global trade.