And the Edinburgh-based biotech, a finalist in the 2024 Earthshot Prize, has domestic and international expansion in its sights.
MiAlgae began as a spin-out from the University of Edinburgh in 2016 to address the growing demand for alternatives to fish oil in aquaculture.
Manufacturing footprint
Its new production site in central Scotland is scheduled to complete its first phase in Summer 2025. The development is set to create new green jobs and to significantly boost MiAlgae’s production capacity.
“The facility’s modular design will enable efficient expansion there as demand grows,” reported to Jo Partridge, MiAlgae operations director.
Scaling operations
In parallel, the innovator is engaged in discussions with distillery partners interested in on-site facilities, as well as exploring hub-and-spoke models to further scale its operations.
International expansion is a key part of MiAlgae’s growth strategy:
“Norway is a natural next step due to its thriving aquaculture industry, and we are also exploring opportunities in other high-demand regions.
“Our approach will depend on market conditions, balancing direct production with potential licensing models to enable rapid scalability while maintaining quality,” Partridge told us.
Path to commercialization
In October last year, MiAlgae announced a partnership with independent Scottish distillery, Eden Mill, to utilise whisky by-products from the distillation process to grow its omega-3 microalgae.
Strategic partnerships have been instrumental in bringing its product to market, said the operations director.
“We’ve established collaborations with industry leaders in aquaculture and pet food, who are eager for sustainable omega-3 alternatives. Whilst we can’t disclose specifics at this stage, these partnerships are driving innovation and ensuring a smooth path to commercialization.”
Circular economy model
MiAlgae’s circular economy model stands out in the algae-based omega-3 market, according to Partridge.
“By upcycling whisky by-products as feedstock, we reduce waste and reliance on virgin resources, offering a solution that is both sustainable and efficient.
“Our in-house bioreactor design further enhances scalability by significantly lowering capital expenditure while maintaining high production output, and by prioritizing local production, we also minimize the carbon footprint associated with global transportation.
”Whilst the product matches the nutritional profile of fish oil, transitioning to algae-based alternatives requires building trust and educating customers, added Partridge.
“MiAlgae collaborates closely with industry partners to highlight the benefits and ensure confidence in the consistency and reliability of our offering.”
Ensuring consistency and quality is fundamental to its operations:
“We use advanced bioprocessing technologies to maintain precise control over algal growth conditions, ensuring stable omega-3 levels in every batch. Each production cycle undergoes rigorous quality control and assurance testing to meet stringent standards before delivery to customers,” said Partridge.
Whisky by-products are an abundant and sustainable feedstock, but their composition can vary depending on the distillery and their process, she noted.
“To address this, we’ve developed robust pre-treatment and monitoring systems to ensure feedstock consistency. During our commercial demonstrator phase, we encountered technical challenges, particularly in adapting feedstock processes and integrating systems. These learnings have equipped us to proactively manage similar complexities as we scale further.”
Asked whether MiAlgae plans to diversify its feedstock sources beyond whisky by-products to support scalability and supply chain resilience, Partridge said:
“Whisky by-products are abundant and provide a reliable foundation for scaling within Europe, with billions of liters available annually in Scotland alone.
“As we expand internationally, we plan to source feedstocks from local food and drink manufacturing by-products, aligning with our sustainability principles. This approach ensures supply chain resilience while staying true to our circular economy ethos.”
