A University of Edinburgh student startup
MiAlgae is a University of Edinburgh startup, conceived by Douglas Martin while studying for a master’s degree. Edinburgh Innovations, the University’s commercialisation service, supported Douglas from early in 2016, as he refined an idea to commercially produce algal strains that naturally occur in our oceans, for use as a raw material in agricultural food products, particularly in the aquaculture sector.
Douglas noted that algal blooms at sea are well documented evidence of pollution and wanted to explore the potential to cultivate strains able to feed on co-products of industrial processes. Douglas saw huge potential to use the resulting algal oil as a source of Omega-3, a vital part of the diet of farmed animals, especially salmon. The algal oil could eliminate the current reliance on wild caught fish as a source of Omega-3.
Today the business uses co-products from distillation to grow Omega-3-rich algae for use as a raw material in agricultural food products. These co-products are of little value to the drinks industry, but are highly nutritious for algae, providing a low-cost feed source. The cultivation process also cleans the medium, which can subsequently be discharged safely back into the environment. MiAlgae is therefore an exciting example of a circular economy business well placed to help ease the pressure on marine ecosystems, while boosting the sustainability credentials of two iconic Scottish exports, whisky and salmon.
