BIOTECH specialist MiAlgae has submitted plans for the build of a new production facility in Grangemouth.
The firm repurposes whisky industry bi-products to grow microalgae as a sustainable, cost-effective alternative to fish-derived Omega-3s. The first phase of the new site is estimated to create over 100 green jobs once operational.
Grangemouth is deemed to be ‘ideally located’ for the facility, with it in close proximity to distilleries and MiAlgae customers in the central belt, which the firm said will help it scale its sustainable production model.
The new facility will also enable the company to address the increasing demands from aquaculture and pet food markets, which are seeking sustainable and ethical sources of marine Omega-3s. MiAlgae are also exploring new markets including meat alternatives, nutraceuticals and livestock feed – sectors with significant global demand.
The new site will be modular, with it expanding as demand grows with new facilities planned close to feedstock sources locally and abroad. The firm added that timing is ‘critical’, with it keen to see the Grangemouth plans approved as ‘quickly as possible’. Alternative sites are being explored as a contingency, it added.
Douglas Martin, founder and MD of MiAlgae, said, “Grangemouth has incredible potential for us as we look to the next stage of our growth. This location offers an ideal position to support our scaling efforts and meet the increasing demand for our ‘biotech for good’ solutions, with the creation of green jobs across engineering, production, and research and development. We are confident that this new facility will help build a greener future and bring high-quality, sustainable jobs to the local community.
“The area has a rich industrial history, and we’re proud to contribute to its evolution. We’re also proud to be involved in Project Willow, which encourages green industries to establish themselves in Grangemouth, contributing to the area’s transformation into a hub for green technologies. MiAlgae is at exactly the right stage of growth to contribute to the success of Project Willow. We are proven at scale, there is market demand for our product and we’re championing biotechnology in Scotland. We’re looking forward to working closely with local stakeholders and the Scottish Government to make this vision a reality.”
