Marine Biologics dives into macroalgae functionality with ingredient platform

Founded in 2024, Marine Biologics uses proprietary microrefineries to extract ingredients from macroalgae, Patrick Griffin, CEO of Marine Biologics, told FoodNavigator-USA. Marine Biologics primarily works with brown algae, including Saccharina latissima​ and Undaria pinnatifida​, and plans to explore the commercialization of macrocystis in the future, he added.

Marine Biologics will follow up its prototype release by raising seed capital to support commercialization, Griffin said.

“[Macroalgae] is a really interesting product ingredient, where it has tons of bioactives. It has tons of different ingredients that can have interesting emulsification and texture profiles, it has protein, it has fiber [and] it has some oils,” Sally Aaron, CCO at Marine Biologics, told FoodNavigator-USA.

Expanding algae's use beyond Asia  

The company operates small test biorefineries but plans to build larger biorefineries from converted cargo containers that can produce 10 metric tons of ingredients a month, the company shared on its website​. These biorefineries are also designed to process macroalgae near farming sites.

“The extraction methodologies we are using are largely water-based aqueous extraction systems. And right now, we have a line of sight on a process that involves deep eutectic solvents — green solvents — and we also are working with enzymes for the isolation extract,” Griffin explained.

Almost all cultivated seaweed comes from Asia, but Marine Biologics wants to inspire more cultivation in Europe and North America by demonstrating the nutritional and functional benefits of macroalgae, Griffith said.  

Creating ‘a complete ingredient system’ with macroalgae 

Various seaweed-based food ingredients are available today, but these ingredients often have limited applications, Griffin noted.

“Historically, where seaweed has made its way into the ingredients’ world is largely around single molecules that are isolated like carrageenans, hydrocolloids [and] alginates that are certainly providing functionality, but there is not a lot of complexity. Alternatively, you also see sort of dried blends and powders,” he elaborated. 

He added, “What we are doing that is a lot different is we are really looking at the macroalgae — the full biomass — so looking at all the compounds and chemicals within it, the full characterization of the macroalgae, and then taking that to really be the basis of a complete ingredients system that is clean label and really servicing the needs around food as medicine and healthier, nutritious ingredients.”

By developing ingredient systems or an ingredient system, Marine Biologics wants to inspire product developers to start using algae-based in their formulations to create better-for-you products, Aaron added. 

“Nobody is sitting down [saying], ‘Oh, I am going to do my next plant-based product, I better have my macroalgae on the bench to help me do some product development.’ So, my goal is that for us to develop a set of solutions and make macroalgae more an innovation platform so that it can be considered part of the solution,” she said.