Independent Scottish distillery Eden Mill has announced a partnership with biotech company MiAlgae, an Earthshot Prize finalist, to repurpose whisky by-products for the production of Omega-3-rich microalgae. This innovative collaboration aims to offer a sustainable solution to the growing global demand for Omega-3, traditionally sourced from wild-caught fish.
The global market for Omega-3, essential for human health, has driven unsustainable overfishing, with 16 million tonnes of oceanic fish caught annually. MiAlgae’s solution uses whisky effluent – a by-product of Eden Mill’s distillation process – to grow microalgae, which is the original source of Omega-3, bypassing the need for fish. This circular process ensures a stable, sustainable supply of Omega-3, supporting both environmental and industry needs.
In this first-of-its-kind partnership with a distillery, MiAlgae will use the by-products from Eden Mill’s whisky production to cultivate Omega-3-rich microalgae, a process which is scalable and cost-effective, allowing sustainability efforts to be impactful without significant added costs.
Rennie Donaldson, Chief Executive Officer at Eden Mill, said, “We are delighted to announce our long-term partnership with MiAlgae, making use of their advanced bio-technology to create sustainable Omega-3 from our distillery’s effluent waste. Sustainability is a hugely important part of our distillery plans, and for our business as a whole, so the team are excited to see a by-product given an environmentally friendly second-use.”
Douglas Martin, Founder and Managing Director at MiAlgae, added, “By partnering with Eden Mill, we will use nutrients from their distillery by-products to grow our eco-friendly Omega-3-rich microalgae. We’ll also upcycle the effluent to clean water. Their shared commitment to sustainability aligns perfectly with our mission to advance biotechnology for good.”
MiAlgae was recently recognised as a finalist for the prestigious Earthshot Prize, established by Prince William to find innovative solutions to global environmental challenges. The company has also secured £14 million in funding to expand its operations and meet increasing demand for sustainable Omega-3 sources.
Eden Mill’s new distillery, located near St Andrews, will distil both gin and single malt Scotch whisky. The site, which is set to open to visitors in spring 2025, will feature a retail space, café, and a bar with views over the Eden Estuary. Further details on the visitor centre and ticket bookings will be announced soon.