Seaweed start-up given £272,000 by Marine Fund Scotland
Eco Cascade plans west coast processing plant to link harvesters and farmers with product makers
A company established earlier this year to fill the gaps between cultivators and gatherers of Scottish seaweed and the needs of seaweed product makers has been granted £272,000 to buy and install equipment for a processing facility on the west coast of Scotland.
The money from the Scottish Government’s Marine Fund Scotland will help community interest company Eco Cascade provide primary processing for seaweed farmers and connect their harvest output with commercial buyers seeking traceable, high quality seaweed product.
Eco Cascade was founded by Alison Baker, who previously founded a fashion label built on local production and low impact fibre materials, and Dr Cait Murray-Green, former chief executive of Oban-based CuanTec, which has developed a world-first method for making compostable, plastic-free food wrapping from shellfish waste, mushrooms, and the exoskeletons of insects.
Low energy drying
Eco Cascade plans to provide primary processing services - drying, chopping, milling and preparation – and will carry out research and development into low energy drying and processing for optimal output.
It also intends to offer network building by connecting farmers with a range of commercial end-users, from restaurants and agri-business to emerging bio-refiners and nutraceutical makers.
The company willalso promote what is says are “the outstanding benefits of using Scottish seaweed - from pristine waters and bio-security to a transparent value chain and fair labour production”.
