BioMara embarks on new project with Innovate UK grant
Supported by an Innovate UK proof-of-concept grant award, BioMara has been investigating advanced biomanufacturing processes for the extraction of bioactive components from sustainably ocean-farmed Scottish seaweed, to generate high-value products with unique health and well-being characteristics.
Following the award in November, BioMara has chosen the University of Edinburgh as the main academic partner to develop its operations and demonstrate the potential of its biorefinery concept.
Matthew Chadwick, a PhD student in Dr. Dimartino’s lab at the School of Engineering, co-funded by BioMara and part of the last cohort of PhD students under the IBioIC skills development training, said: “I am very excited to be working on this project. As a born and bred Scotsman, I love the idea of bioprocessing native seaweeds from my land making something the entire world could benefit from!” Matthew will test the bioactive properties of his purified seaweed extracts in Dr. Sloan’s lab at the School of Medicine.
BioMara’s multinational team of enthusiastic seaweed researchers has joined the facilities at the Institute for Bioengineering (IBioE) in the School of Engineering. “Our first target is to demonstrate the real value and potential applications of our seaweed extracts, while at the same time optimise our production protocols” said Dr. Vanegas, BioMara’s Technical Director.
Dr. Carvalho, Head of R&D at BioMara, adds: “Collaboration with Dr. Dimartino and Dr. Sloan is an exciting opportunity for us. A solid scientific foundation across bioprocessing and medicine is the best way to back our products and ensure their successful commercialisation”.
BioMara’s CEO, James Dignan, observes that “seaweed has played a crucial role for centuries as an attractive natural source of food, biostimulants and alginates. However, in the UK, the majority of seaweed species are understudied and underutilised. At BioMara we want to harness the significant potential of seaweed through downstream product development from sustainably produced Scottish ocean-farmed biomass.”
The Innovate UK-funded project and the University of Edinburgh collaboration will lead to the extraction of unique macromolecules with bioactive properties for products such as natural, traceable, healthy, and functional food ingredients. BioMara’s foundational strategy for its Scottish-based biorefinery is to help grow the emerging Scottish seaweed industry by partnering with farms, coastal communities, academic institutions, and industry players supporting government initiatives like Net-Zero. This strategy will drive demand in a thriving blue bioeconomy through the development of differentiated, sustainable, and high-quality bioactive products from seaweed with Scottish provenance.
BioMara is a Scottish biotechnology start-up based in Edinburgh delivering a novel seaweed biorefinery concept.