Countryman has explored the many uses of SeaStock’s cultivated seaweed, looking at how the Fremantle-based marine science company grows Asparagopsis in the lab and what that means for WA agriculture. The masthead’s coverage centres on SeaStock’s work turning a native red seaweed into a methane-reducing feed additive for livestock, alongside its broader push into natural pigments and other bioproducts.
The article traces the science back to CSIRO research showing that small doses of Asparagopsis in cattle feed can sharply cut methane emissions from digestion, a finding that has driven global interest in seaweed-based feed additives as a practical tool for reducing agriculture’s carbon footprint. SeaStock’s AlgaToro™ product is built on that same research base, adapted for commercial-scale production in Western Australia.
Countryman details how SeaStock sources its seed stock from wild Asparagopsis populations around Rottnest Island and the Abrolhos Islands, using this genetic material to establish and maintain lab-cultivated lines rather than relying on continuous wild harvest. This lab-based approach gives the company control over supply and quality as it scales toward commercial volumes.
Cultivation itself takes place in closed bioreactors, a method the article says allows SeaStock to grow the seaweed under controlled conditions year-round, independent of open-water farming constraints. The closed-system approach also supports the consistent biochemical profile needed for both the methane-reducing feed ingredient and the company’s natural pigment lines.
Please note access to the full article may be restricted to digital subscribers of The West Australian.
