MiAlgae
MiAlgae has developed a novel algae production method to harvest omega-3 oils from micro-algae grown on waste water. Algal oil is a high-value substitute for fish oil in livestock feeds. The global market is booming and demand for sustainable food sources is high and increasing.
The company mission is to revolutionise the £340bn global livestock feed industry by replacing environmentally damaging products with natural solutions produced by remediating waste products. MiAlgae’s success will benefit the entire planet.
Key nutrients, including proteins and omega-3 fatty acids, are required to maintain livestock health and consequent growth rates. Within the livestock feed sector, fish oil is used to provide a number of these nutrients, with the aquaculture feed industry utilizing around 73% of all fish oil imported by the UK. Fish oil is produced using wild caught fish, however global stocks are expected to collapse by 2050, making it an unsustainable process. Hence feed suppliers are being forced by rising prices, increased regulations, and customers to urgently seek an alternative. This problem is further compounded by greater requirement for animal products due to increased urbanization and population growth.
Microalgae constitutes not only a viable alternative to fish oil, but a better-quality product altogether. Microalgal products are currently available but cost approximately 500% more than fish oil. The high nutrient and capital costs associated with their production are the key drivers of this high price. MiAlgae has the solution to both these issues. The company utilizes nutrient-rich food and drinks industry wastewater and low-cost modified “off the shelf” brewing fermenters to drastically reduce production costs. The process and strain optimization allow growth of microalgae that produce high levels of omega-3 fatty acids.
“The majority of MiAlgae’s research and development has been carried out at the IBioIC Open Access Equipment Centres based at the University of Strathclyde and Heriot-Watt University.
The technical expertise offered by the IBioIC technical team and the access to an extensive range of specialist equipment, has been immensely valuable in enabling us to carry out our R&D activities efficiently and within a tight budget and timeline. The Centres offer companies like MiAlgae the opportunity to progress the development of commercially valuable products through each stage, from basic research to rapid prototyping, through to scale-up.
As well as this, the IBioIC Member Network has aided MiAlgae to keep abreast of relevant industrial developments and discover potential collaborators who might be working towards a similar goal or have expertise in areas that are relevant to us. Being a small innovative company, these networks and contacts have been invaluable in our continued development as a commercial entity.”
Douglas Martin
Founder and Managing Director
MiAlgae Limited