Farming Asparagopsis Seaweed

Greener Grazing Project Overview

Greener Grazing’s mission is to develop the foundational knowledge and tools needed to initiate scalable, ocean-based Asparagopsis taxiformis (“AT”) farming and support producers in rapidly building supply. We have successfully developed—for the first time—methods to produce, recover, and seed spores essential to ocean-based cultivation. Our work plan is summarized below:

Create Seed bank

Established the world’s first seed bank with over 30 collections of geographically distinct global isolates of Asparagopsis taxiformis. Developed methodology to purify cultures with isolates now being held and studied in two seed bank locations.

Characterize biological attributes

Developed improved analytical methodologies to measure active compounds. Characterized the chemical and biological attributes of a broad range of AT isolates to identify the most desirable traits for cultivation—rapid growth rate and high bromoform content.

develop reproduction methods

Achieved a breakthrough in inducing spore release from AT sporophytes and demonstrated the world’s first attachment of the spores onto ropes and other substrates for ocean-based cultivation.

Ocean cultivation

Developed and tested a novel modular ocean-based farming system using submerged tube nets to cultivate AT in the ocean. Integrated test farm with marine fin fish aquaculture to establish a circular ecosystem-based approach to production.

Evaluate ecosystem impacts

We plan to evaluate environmental interactions and ecosystem impacts to more fully understand AT’s potential to enhance habitats and restore ocean environments. We will provide science-based guidance to commercial collaborators and regulators.

identify optimal locations

We plan to complete geospatial and economic modeling of AT cultivation systems to identify optimal locations for cultivation to rapidly scale global supply while revitalizing coastal communities.

deliver supply

Provide product to collaborating livestock research teams, commercial producers and cultivation partners to support industry development.

Why Ocean Farming: Land vs Sea-Based Cultivation

Greener Grazing’s chief scientist Leonardo Mata developed the world's first and most advanced land-based Asparagopsis farming system. While land-based cultivation is now technically feasible, costs are expected to remain high due to water and energetic requirements.

Greener Grazing’s focus on developing the technologies needed to initiate ocean-based cultivation is expected to offer very significant capital and operating cost savings compared to land-based cultivation. Application of automated planting and harvesting systems can facilitate cost-effective scale up of ocean-based cultivation to meet global supply needs.

The project leverages Australis Aquaculture’s expertise and track record of bringing innovation to market. Australis is the world's leading producer of sustainably-farmed barramundi and a pioneer in tropical marine farming.

Team Publications

Nitrogen uptake kinetics of an enteric methane inhibitor, the red seaweed Asparagopsis armata

Concise review of the genus Asparagopsis Montagne, 1840

Rapid Analytical Method for the Quantification of Bromoform in the Red Seaweeds Asparagopsis armata and Asparagopsis taxiformis Using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry