Seaweed a winner for Agrisea
Agrisea New Zealand has won the coveted NZ Hi-tech Kamupene Ma¯ ori o te Tau – Ma¯ ori Company of the Year Award for 2022.
The award, sponsored by Callaghan Innovation, highlights the company’s collaborative work with Scion scientists in developing novel seaweed hydrogels as part of its mission to create a high-value and sustainable seaweed industry in Aotearoa.
Agrisea chief executive Clare Bradley said the award was proof of the benefits of combining indigenous knowledge with mainstream science and biotechnology.
“Not only does this award show that indigenous knowledge and science anchored in natural, renewable resources can compete and win against other technology industries, it also highlights the strength that comes from weaving together and respecting different knowledge sets.”
The collaboration between Agrisea and Scion started in 2017 when Clare and Tane Bradley met Scion researchers Dr Marie-joo Le Guen and Dr Stefan Hill at Matariki
X, a symposium that brings Ma¯ ori innovators and entrepreneurs, and researchers together. A casual conversation about nanocellulose from seaweed waste led to a partnership now spanning five years.
Clare Bradley said collaborating with Scion as an industry partner during the early research phase required Agrisea to take a leap of faith, but one they were keen to explore for the market opportunity to turn seaweed waste from their core business into additional high-value products. Nanocellulose can be used in a range of products, including batteries, adhesives, biomedical supplies, and cosmetics.
Drawing on Scion’s wood pulping expertise, the collaboration explored a way to create the polymer from seaweed and kelps.
Equally important for Agrisea is the desire to be good kaitiaki (guardians) of the whenua (land) and of the natural resources that are at the heart of their family-owned, Paeroa-based seaweed company, which has provided biostimulants to farmers and growers for more than 25 years.
“If we want to grow a seaweed sector in Aotearoa, we need highvalue, unique products from our natural resources. At the same time, we want to be good ancestors for our grandchildren.
“Designing these products from our current waste stream processes meets both these objectives.”
Dr Stefan Hill, Scion’s portfolio lead for high-value Biorefineries, said research with Agrisea was an exciting example of developing renewable biobased products to replace traditional petrochemical-based products, and providing a path for industry uptake.
“Clare and Tane have been a pleasure to partner with from day one, buying into our vision for what could be achieved by mechanically processing their seaweed to extract nanocellulose, which is then used to make hydrogels for a range of products and industries.”
During her speech at the Hi-tech Awards, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern noted the opportunity for New Zealand businesses to not simply provide the “best technology in the world,” but to deliver the “best technology for the world.”
The capability that seaweed nanocellulose has to replace nonrenewable nanocellulose and divert waste products from landfill led to a successful scale-up trial that has provided material for further product development.
The technology has been licensed to Agrisea to continue the development of hydrogels.