Seaweed to biobased products
The business model
An Irish company has developed a sustainable approach to process Ireland’s seaweed (Ascophyllum nodosum) for domestic and export uses. The company is known for its finest value-added seaweed products to boost the quality of animal feed, crop nutritional products and soil conditioners. The company was acquired in 2014 by a world leader in marine plant products to humans, animals and plants.
The company recognizes the importance of working with sustainable harvesting systems, as seaweed is the source of income for many people in the west coast of Ireland. Operations follow simple techniques of 4-5 years of fallowing and leaving sufficient material for regeneration, which allow harvesting for 5,000 to 28,000 wet tons per year. Indigenous seaweed harvesting by hand is a practice that has been carried out for generations.
This practice has supported the livelihoods of coastal communities, playing an important role in shaping the local foreshore environment while adding to the unique heritage around the coasts of Ireland. Whilst exports for alginate production ceased in 2009, 5,000–6,000 dry weight tons are currently being produced for the animal feed, horticulture, aquaculture, and cosmetics markets. Arramara is the major buyer of seaweed harvested in Ireland. It supplies the material for other industries and also makes high-value products for animal and plant nutrition. The producers get locally sourced, sustainably harvested and high-quality material for their products. Consistent supply of raw material is a great advantage for the producers, which can be achieved only through sustainable harvesting by experienced harvesters.
The final products
An Irish company has developed a new sustainable approach to process Ireland’s seaweed (Ascophyllum nodosum) for domestic and export uses. Harvesting operations are carried out by local harvesters, following either traditional or alternative harvesting methods but ensuring that the product is always gathered with sustainability in mind. Traditional hand harvesting is done using knives and sickles and, in recent years, an eco-friendly hand harvesting method using small boats and specially-designed rakes is being used.
The seaweed supplies many markets thanks to its organoleptic proprieties which can be used in the production of different biobased products, such as: Soil conditioner produced from seaweeds. It is granular in nature and improves water intake and nutrient uptake of the soil. It can help to correct deficiencies in the soil for crops cultivation, acting at physical, chemical and biological level. Soil nutrients. They are a seaweed concentrate that provides balanced nutrients and trace elements to plants. It helps in overall plant growth and develops resistance to pathogens and pests.
Animal feed products from seaweed, which maintain clean and safe products for animals to consume. The product fortifies animals’ enzymes, hormones and cells with an organic, more easily assimilated source of trace elements. It assists nutrient absorption, healthy growth and animal performance as well as maintains healthy intestinal functions by providing essential roughage.
The value chain
This practice presents an excellent example of synergy between several actors for the production of value-added products from marine biomass. The company purchases seaweed from local harvesters and ships it to their facility to perform the drying and milling processes before sold to the biobased industry in Ireland and worldwide. It currently employs 20 people directly and purchases seaweed from over 300 harvesters. Collaboration with Research organisations and universities is crucial to preserve the local habitat, manage the marine plant and plan a sustainable harvest.
The amount of seaweed available and ways to protect it is done by taking an alternative approach instead of assessing the weed on a weight-per-unit-area basis. The west coast resources of Ascophyllum were mapped using hand-held GPS (global positioning satellite) devices and Arc-Info, a software package to assist in mapping. This was done in collaboration with the Department of Geography & Coastal Resources Centre, University College, Cork.
The local seaweed buyers assess the production that an area can support. It was established that at least 130,000 wet tons of harvestable Ascophyllum are available annually on the west coast of Ireland, about 34,000 wet tons of which are being utilised at present. Experienced harvesters in Connemara region, west coast Ireland, have made an art of making seaweed bundles, locally called climíní (literally, bundles). Bundles are tied off with ropes and allowed to float to the top of the shore. These floating climíní are then rowed to small harbours where the weed is collected by lorries and transported by road to the drying plant.
Economic benefits
In this practice, Seaweed is hand harvested sustainably by local farmers without using any mechanical harvesting equipment. This means more harvesters required per unit ton compared to mechanical harvesting. The processing company has increased its price to harvesters by almost €10 to €53 a tonne, which translates into an important additional source of income for local farmers. 90% of the Irish seaweed harvested is naturally grown and only 10% is cultivated. Harvesters know by experience, how much to leave and how long for efficient regeneration.
In some areas, it is possible to harvest on a 3-year cycle, but in most of the cases a 4-year cycle harvesting is followed. The business model provides jobs for more than 400 people, and it is important to highlight that sustainable harvesting can ensure supply of seaweed for many decades, reducing provision risks and price volatility. In the latest year the algae global market rise from 1-3% per annum and the demand is growing due to all the research and new products created from algae.
Also, in terms of product streams, seaweed is used for multiple products from animal feed to cosmetic industry which keeps the demand and industry ever growing. Because the seaweed sourced from different regions of west coast is carefully recorded, consumer can track down the product to the source of origin.
