Douglas Martin has always had a strong affection for the ocean.
There’s a personal affinity I’ve always had with the ocean. Water has a special significance for me, and I always feel most at peace when the soothing sound of crashing waves fills the air, providing a calming escape from the constant din.
Although Martin was born in South Africa, he has a Scottish upbringing as he grew up with Scottish parents who plays a significant role in his life, and he states “was very much raised as a Scot”.
“Living in Scotland offers the unique advantage of having its main cities surrounded by nature, with oceans and rivers readily accessible for everyone to appreciate.”
His appreciation for the sea may have given Martin the moment of understanding: to create a sustainable alternative to omega-3 supplements for humans and farmed fish that doesn’t rely on wild fish and, at the same time, addresses a key issue impacting Scotland’s leading industry, whisky production internationally.
Instead of focusing on a single climate-related issue, why not address two problems with one solution?
Overfishing is being driven by a worldwide demand for Omega-3.
Essential fatty acids are crucial for human health. These omega-3 nutrients enable cells to operate effectively and are vital for brain function, eye health, and heart health. They are also believed to be beneficial in lowering anxiety, reducing joint inflammation in rheumatoid conditions, and preventing dementia.
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In fact, our global appetite for fishmeal and fish oil is increasing rapidly, with a significant increase in demand for small fish anticipated to outstrip supply by 2037 – a mere 12 years from now.
This then imperils the safety and availability of food for communities living near the coast.
While Martin was a student at the University of Edinburgh, he began exploring an alternative solution, and MiAlgae was established in 2016.
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Business is essential to the UK economy, employing 66,000 people and generating £7.1 billion (€8.5 billion) for the British economy, as stated by the Scotch Whisky Association.
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they eat.”
They rely on wild-caught fish as the source of Omega-3s for their farmed fish because they cannot produce the nutrients they require on their own, which suggests that there needs to be a limit to the wild-caught fish used.
“and also trying to keep wastewater out of the ocean by using whisky byproducts as a feedstock.”
It’s estimated that around 2.6 billion litres of wastewater is generated annually globally from the whisky distilling process.
The whisky industry in Scotland creates a large volume of surplus byproducts, which happens to be rich in the nutrients that algae thrive on, making it a practical choice for us.
Martin and his team have situated their operation near several waste distillery water sources and rely on renewable energy to power massive 30,000-liter fermentation tanks that churn out thousands of tonnes of algae each week. The algae is then dried and transformed into a powder, which can be used as aquafeed for farmed fish, as well as in pet food.
A form of algae production that lowers carbon emissions, with a double benefit.
Martin claims that though the process appears straightforward, it has taken “some years to perfect.” He also credits his co-inventors Shreekanth Ramananthan and Julian Pietrzyk with valuable support. His Master of Science in synthetic biology and biotechnology likely provided additional expertise.
It helps however, two of Scotland’s most influential commodities to flourish in a more environmentally friendly manner.
One tonne of MiAlgae’s patented algae can produce as much Omega-3 as 620,000 fish and can prevent the release of nearly 40,000 kg of CO2 by reducing the need for fishing to produce fishmeal.
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Following its selection as an Earthshot finalist, MiAlgae is increasing its operations.
Tanks like those used in brewing have the potential to be adapted for other nutrient-dense waste sources as well.
We are currently preparing for the mass production stage; soon we will relocate to a state-of-the-art facility, allowing us to offer even larger quantities to our clients.
In 2021, he became the Prince of Wales.
“Says Martin, ‘That can truly make a difference for our planet’.”
“The Earthshot Prize has heightened the urgency of addressing marine ecosystem decline, while providing an international platform to encourage transformation. This acknowledgment has motivated us to expand our solution and pioneer the march towards sustainable food production.”
The MiAgae team not only benefits from increased visibility and credibility, but it also gains access to a network of influential international partners, encompassing investors and policymakers, thereby facilitating the rapid global acceptance of its technology.
“In the next five years, our goal is to become a world leader in sustainable food production, offering innovative and scalable substitutes for fish-based oils,” Martin says.
‘”This means we are placing agriculture within the context of the overall economic development of the country… [Agriculture] is no longer just a source of nutrition.
