A new partnership between Edinburgh Napier University (ENU) and Scottish American biotechnology company AlgiSys will aim to harness the environmental potential of algae to address global pressures on food supply.
AlgiSys’s technology uses microalgae biomass fermentation to produce a clean, vegan source of EPA-rich omega-3s and plant protein. The company is partnering with ENU to continue its work in Scotland to produce a healthier and more environmentally sustainable feed ingredients for salmon and the wider aquaculture industry.
A newly signed Memorandum of Understanding between AlgiSys and ENU will allow expert researchers at the university to test the potential uses and explore scaling opportunities for algae-based products.
The Memorandum signals the beginning of what is hoped will become a long-term partnership, which initially includes the arrival of researchers based at an ENU research and development laboratory.
Professor Nick Wheelhouse, Director of ENU’s Centre for Biomedicine and Global Health, said that “this partnership has been a long time in the making and we are pleased to make it official. The need for a sustainable source of omega-3 and plant protein products has never been greater, so our work with AlgiSys has huge potential to overcome significant food supply challenges. While the immediate focus is on aquaculture, a major industry in Scotland, we believe their technology could have applications as a replacement for ingredients in pet food, human food supplements and pharmaceuticals.”
Eve Bird, AlgiSys Director of Research & Innovation, noted: “We see a great alignment between AlgiSys’ technology and ENU’s resources, capabilities and commitment to sustainability.”
