The Start of a multi-year partnership for R&D of high quality non-animal proteins from microalgae.
The following includes excerpts from NewFish and Cawthron Institute Statement
The partnership combines Cawthron’s expertise in seaweed and microalgae with NewFish’s innovation and commercialization capabilities. The partnership will focus on shared research and the development of high-quality non-animal proteins from microalgae.
Cawthron has over 100 years of science history, and a team of nearly 300 people from more than 30 countries, headquartered in Nelson. The research institute is also home to the nationally significant Culture Collection of Microalgae.
Volker Kuntzsch, Cawthron Chief Executive, says the Institute is strongly focused on realising the potential of algae and marine bioactive resources.
“With the ocean making up 96 percent of Aotearoa New Zealand’s territory, there is a significant opportunity for our waters and its natural resources to provide for us now, and into the future. What fascinates me is that the environmental impact of growing algae and seaweed is so much smaller than traditional protein. Exploring the untapped potential of marine bioactives could signal the establishment of an exciting new industry for our country, with the aim of creating an exemplary blue economy with a healthy natural environment as the ultimate ambition.”
NewFish is a fast-growing US-New Zealand start-up focused on non-GMO algae fermentation and IP commercialisation into specialised ingredients. Toby Lane, incoming NewFish CEO, says resource-efficient and functional blue proteins are critical to shaping the future of the protein sector.
“With CO2 at its highest point in more than two million years, and the global population growing, we urgently need new sources of naturally sourced, high quality protein with reduced ecological externalities. We have a responsibility to provide consumers and customers with great tasting, healthy protein that has a light environmental footprint. Microalgae will play a pivotal role in delivering this.” says Toby.
The announcement marks the start of a multi-year partnership aims to create a blue economy with a healthy natural environment as the ultimate ambition.
19 January 2023