Fremantle Seaweed acquires onshore seaweed technology

WA-based Asparagopsis seaweed producer Fremantle Seaweed has acquired onshore nursery and seaweed production technology and equipment from FutureFeed to accelerate a path to commercial production by adding onshore cultivation to its open-ocean growing operations.

The move follows the purchase of the ocean-backed facility located at 20 Mews Road in Fremantle in April, funded by a $4 million grant from the WA Government’s Investment Attraction Fund. The nursery and technology is for onshore cultivation of the tetrasporophyte phase of Asparagopsis seaweed.

The acquisition will assist in bringing forward commercial supply for Fremantle Seaweed, with its first sales now targeted for 2027, as it scales production to meet growing demand for seaweed-based feed products, shown to reduce ruminant methane emissions by 80%. The company has been a cultivation partner of FutureFeed since March 2025.

Fremantle Seaweed already grows the seaweed’s other life stage, the gametophyte phase, in the open ocean, while the purchase will now also give Fremantle production dual capability in the tetrasporophyte phase, which is typically grown onshore in tank systems.

Compared to RAS onshore production systems, the approach offers:

• reduced upfront costs, achieved with prefabricated tanks;
• a smaller footprint, via optimised tank arrangement; and
• lower operating costs, through contamination controls.
   

“We started this business growing seaweed from a boat, and we’re now taking a major step towards commercial production by bringing onshore cultivation into our operations. This facility gives us the capability to grow both phases of Asparagopsis at scale, strengthening our ability to deliver a consistent and commercially viable supply to cattle producers,” said Chris De Cuyper, CEO and founder of Fremantle Seaweed.

“This is an important milestone for Fremantle Seaweed and for the Australian seaweed industry. Our focus now is on turning five years of technology development and cultivation experience into a reliable supply of seaweed-based feed that farmers can adopt at scale. The farmers we speak to are looking for practical, affordable ways to reduce emissions without compromising the way they operate, and that is the opportunity we are working to deliver.”

Alex Baker, CEO of FutureFeed, said, “With FutureFeed’s role in commercialising the core CSIRO technology and developing the science, technology and intellectual property underpinning Asparagopsis as a feed ingredient, we’re pleased to see this cultivation capability move into Fremantle’s hands, who are now focused on taking production to the next stage.”

Image credit: iStock.com/Edu Alcaniz. Image used for illustrative purposes only.