- The facility focuses on producing alginate and fucoidan from Sargassum algae.
- Biomass is sourced from Puntacana, Dominican Republic.
- The demo facility is a precursor to a planned biorefinery in Finland.
- Safety and process refinement are key priorities.
Facility Launch and Purpose
Origin by Ocean has inaugurated a demo production facility in Otaniemi, Finland, aimed at advancing towards commercial-scale manufacturing of alginate and fucoidan. This facility is crucial for validating production processes, meeting customer needs, and supplying food-grade samples for developing ocean-derived ingredients.
Raw Material and Sourcing
The facility will process Sargassum, an invasive brown algae species from the Caribbean Sea. The biomass is sourced from Puntacana, Dominican Republic, through collaborations with local governments and entrepreneurs, aligning with the mission to convert ocean overgrowth into valuable ingredients.
Operational Transition
The transition to demo-scale production involved securing specialized equipment, asset transfers, and developing standard operating procedures. Extensive training ensured a safe and efficient production environment, with safety being a core focus throughout the setup and implementation phases.
Future Plans
The Otaniemi facility is a stepping stone towards establishing a first-of-a-kind biorefinery in Finland. This move from laboratory and pilot work to full demo production is pivotal for scaling up operations, with plans underway for a large-scale regenerative production facility.
Industry Impact
The facility is the first in Europe to refine alginate and fucoidan from Sargassum, setting a precedent for utilizing marine biomass in industrial applications. This initiative marks a significant advancement towards larger-scale commercial production, supported by a strong team and strategic partnerships.
