The Scottish startup, which produces omega 3-rich microalgae for the petfood and aquafeed sectors using waste from the whisky industry, took part in a ground-breaking ceremony at the site of the factory in Grangemouth last week.
The large-scale facility, which is due to go live in early Q2 2026, will increase MiAlgae’s pet-nutrition omega 3 output more than tenfold, enabling manufacturers to incorporate premium DHA into dry, wet, and supplement formats without relying on wild caught fish oil.
According to the startup the expansion will also save six billion fish annually by replacing marine-sourced omega 3s; recycle 36.1 million litres of whisky by-products; and create hundreds of new green job.
MiAlgae’s £14 million facility will be backed by a joint investment of up to £3 million by the UK and Scottish governments.
Douglas Martin, founder and CEO of MiAlgae, said in a press release: “Breaking ground at Grangemouth marks an exciting new chapter for MiAlgae. Our mission has always been to make a meaningful impact, tackling overfishing, reducing waste, and creating sustainable value from industrial by-products. This new facility is a huge step towards delivering that mission at scale, bringing new, high-quality green jobs to the local area, and helping Scotland lead the way in this exciting new biotech industry.”
The facility is designed with modular scalability, allowing MiAlgae to meet growing demand from pet-food and aquaculture brands alike. Located close to both key raw-material suppliers and major customers, the site will support a low-carbon supply chain for pet-nutrition manufacturers across the UK, EU, and US.
MiAlgae’s investment forms part of Project Willow, the Scottish government initiative aimed at transforming Grangemouth - traditionally an epicentre of Scotland's oil and gas sector - into a hub for green technologies.
