AlgiSys BioSciences prepares to launch EPA-rich aquafeed ingredient

SCOTLAND – AlgiSys BioSciences, a Scottish biotech startup founded in 2009, has developed a proprietary microalgae strain that offers a unique EPA-rich and protein-packed powder for aquafeeds—targeting salmon, shrimp and other farmed species. 

According to an article by The Fish Site, the company is currently raising US$5 million to kick off commercial-scale fermentation, with product availability expected within a year of securing investment.

“Our number one milestone is developing the technology to the point of an initial product for aquafeed,” said Roger Frank, CEO of AlgiSys’s aquaculture division. “We’ve met with informed industry sources who have stated outright that they have not seen an ingredient like ours.”

Unlike competitors who focus on extracting refined oils, AlgiSys is delivering a dried algae powder that naturally encapsulates EPA, providing both omega-3 benefits and a plant-based protein source. 

“By selling the powder, feed manufacturers also get the benefit of the protein,”  said founder Dr Charles Roe.

With patents in six countries and proprietary strains, AlgiSys positions itself as the only known single source of combined EPA and protein, offering a disruptive three-in-one aquafeed ingredient. 

The new non-GMO ingredient, targeted for use in salmon and shrimp farming, is designed to replace fish oil and fishmeal, helping reduce pressure on marine ecosystems. 

Its dried form eliminates the need for oil extraction, cutting production costs while retaining the algae’s natural antioxidant protection and protein content.

The Cleveland-based company has opted to set up its main operations in Scotland, citing the UK’s pro-biotech stance and Scotland’s robust salmon farming sector. 

“We see Scotland as the ideal launchpad, with a multi-billion-pound aquaculture industry and a strong sustainability focus,” Roe explained.

AlgiSys is collaborating with Edinburgh Napier University and the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) in Middlesbrough for pilot-scale fermentation and was recently accepted into the Hatch Blue Crest accelerator program. Feeding trials with Stirling University are set to begin this year.

As Frank noted, “We are an alternative ingredient that improves the health of salmon and the people who eat that salmon. Fundamentally, we’re helping to sustainably improve the economics of the salmon aquaculture industry.”

The startup’s commercialisation plan includes four phases, with the final steps focusing on scaling production.

In the long term, once commercial momentum builds, AlgiSys envisions building its own fermentation facility—potentially in Scotland.

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