Eden Mill turns whisky waste into sustainable source of Omega-3

MiAlgae will utilise whisky by-products from Eden Mill’s distillation process to nurture Omega-3-rich microalgae, eliminating the need to harvest the fatty acid from wild-caught fish.

Global demand for Omega-3 is one of main drivers of unsustainable overfishing, with more than 16 million tonnes of wild-caught oceanic fish annually. MiAlgae’s process operates at scale and offers what it claims is an affordable product that doesn’t compromise on impact.

Advanced bio-technology

Commenting on the partnership, Eden Mill chief executive Rennie Donaldson 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.”​

MiAlgae has recently been recognised as a finalist for the ‘Earthshot Prize’ – founded by Prince William to find ‘the most innovative solutions to the world’s greatest environmental challenges’. The firm also secured £14m in funding to accelerate its operations and scale production to meet global demand.

Upcycled product

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.”​

Eden Mill has installed an effluent storage tank at its distillery as they progress toward the completion of their new home near St Andrews. Distillation is due to re-commence early in 2025

Meanwhile, new commercial food waste legislation​​ is set to come into force in the UK from the end of March next year.

The law will require most business to separate food waste from other waste streams through the use of separate bins. Firms will also need to arrange for food waste to be collected by licensed carriers.