Seaweed processing pioneer completes commercial-scale trials
Success brings BioMara closer to full production of flagship extract fucoidan
Edinburgh-based seaweed biotechnology company BioMara has successfully completed commercial-scale trials of its proprietary fucoidan extraction process at the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI), the UK’s premier bioprocessing facility, at Redcar in northeast England.
The scale-up is a critical step in bringing BioMara’s flagship ingredient, Thalivra fucoidan, to market.
The trials validated BioMara’s extraction process at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6-7, an industry benchmark for pilot-scale demonstration in a relevant environment. BioMara can now produce commercial grade fucoidan samples to meet increasing demand across the nutraceutical and wellness sectors.
What is fucoidan?
Fucoidan is a protective long chain sulphated polysaccharide found in various species of seaweed. It is utilised in a range of therapeutic health care preparations, being incorporated as high value ingredients in nutritional, medical device, skincare and dermatological products.
Archaeological digs in Chile have uncovered evidence of the use of fucoidan-containing seaweeds dating to circa 12,000 BC, although fucoidan itself was not isolated and described until the early 1900s.
The photo above shows fucoidan extracted by BioMara and placed in capsules.
“We’re seeing solid demand for research-backed fucoidans as an ingredient in nutraceuticals and wellness,” said BioMara chief executive Jay Dignan. “Yet, supply remains limited especially in UK and Europe. Our successful scale-up at CPI demonstrates that BioMara can fill this gap with a robust process for high-quality product. Partners can now rely on us as a secure, UK-based fucoidan supplier.”
The process running a full equipment stack scaled from 500-litre pilot batches to 1,000 litres (1 cubic metre) without compromising product purity or performance, said BioMara. Compared to industry benchmarks, Thalivra achieved high yields and high purity without the use of harsh chemicals, positioning BioMara’s proprietary process as one of the most efficient, effective, and clean commercial seaweed operations in the Western world.
The successful trials position Thalivra for market entry and reduces risk in future production roll-out with contract manufacturing organisation (CMO) partners.
Thalivra is BioMara’s high-purity fucoidan extract, sustainably sourced from brown seaweed for application as a natural solution in gut health and immune support. BioMara says that backed by emerging scientific evidence, Thalivra offers antioxidant, antimicrobial, enzymatic inhibition, and prebiotic functions, making it ideal for integration into functional foods, nutraceuticals, and other health formulations.
Project BioSWELL
As well as scaling up, BioMara is investing in scientific validation through Project BioSWELL (Biotechnological Innovations for Optimised Seaweed Wellness and Economic Levelling-up) in collaboration with Abertay University, Dundee, with support from Innovate UK Launchpads. This three-phase study will substantiate Thalivra’s bioactivity and bioavailability, a key requirement to boost customer confidence in the solution.
The company said that with growing early interest and multiple commercial discussions under way, it will showcase Thalivra and the co-product Seafibrex to global nutraceutical buyers and formulators at the Vitafoods Europe trade show running from May 20-22 in Barcelona.
BioMara aims to be a world leader in the production of seaweed extracts as marine wellness ingredients, providing a profitable market for seaweed grown in Scotland and other European countries.
