Fremantle Seaweed, a Western Australian ocean-tech Asparagopsis producer, has raised $2.3 million in seed funding to move from pilot operations to commercial manufacturing. The raise marks a step towards broader access to methane-reducing feed supplements for the livestock sector.
Asparagopsis, a native red seaweed, has been shown by CSIRO to reduce methane emissions from cattle by up to 80 per cent. With $4 million from the WA Government’s Investment Attraction Fund, Fremantle Seaweed has spent the past four years developing the systems and ocean-based infrastructure needed to scale supply. What began as trials of longlines in Cockburn Sound has become an integrated platform from hatchery to harvest.
The company has designed high-density longline cultivation systems, modular containerised hatcheries and a purpose-built harvesting vessel to support expansion.
The new funding supports development of the company’s 3,000-hectare North West Hub, its main commercial site. Modelling indicates it could meet more than 20 per cent of Australia’s dairy and feedlot demand for Asparagopsis.
“The support behind Fremantle Seaweed has been incredible,” said Chris De Cuyper, co-founder and managing director of the company.
“Our analysis shows that scaling to the North-West Hub could abate close to one million tonnes of CO₂-equivalent emissions each year, roughly the same as offsetting a small LNG facility. That is the kind of real-world impact that investors, producers, and policymakers are looking for.
“What excites me most is the sense of shared purpose. Farmers want practical, natural tools that make sense on-farm, and our job is to deliver those – technology that fits seamlessly into existing systems and creates value across the board.”
Fremantle Seaweed is also preparing a 400-day Wagyu feedlot trial with 60 cattle, using more than 1,500 kilograms of dried Asparagopsis. The trial will assess performance and productivity under commercial feeding conditions and aims to provide data to support wider adoption.
As agriculture is responsible for about half of Australia’s methane emissions, broader access to Asparagopsis could offer a pathway for farmers to reduce emissions while competing in low-carbon markets.
A further $4.32 million is open to sophisticated investors, bringing the total raise to up to $6.5 million and supporting the planned commercial build-out.
“What excites me most is the sense of shared purpose,” added De Cuyper. “Farmers want practical, natural tools that make sense on-farm, and our job is to deliver those – technology that fits seamlessly into existing systems and creates value across the board.”