Eco Cascade – the UK’s only multi-purpose seaweed processor
2025-09-19
Eco Cascade – the UK’s only multi-purpose seaweed processor
Meet NSF-member @Eco Cascade CIC, a Scottish not-for-profit dedicated to seaweed processing since 2022. Founders @Alison Baker and @Cait Murray-Green spotted a crucial gap in the value chain: farmers could harvest seaweed, but had nowhere to have it professionally washed, chopped and dried. Their solution: a processing facility in Kyle of Lochalsh, on Scotland’s west coast, right at the heart of the emerging seaweed cultivation industry.
From idea to reality
Eco Cascade started with a simple mission: to make processing easier so that farmers could focus on growing. Now in their third season, they have already processed seaweed for six different companies this year. They started with a focus on processing for food, but this expanded quickly into processing seaweed for a much wider range of applications. Nowadays they also process seaweed for applications in biostimulants to Bioplastics and animal feed research.
Unique in the United Kingdom
“We are the only multi-purpose seaweed processor in the UK,” says Alison. “That makes us unique, but also vulnerable. Because although demand is growing, the industry is struggling: no-one is making money yet.”
The challenges are significant: specialist machinery that often does not work as intended, high processing costs (up to £40/kg break-even compared with £2–5/kg for wild harvests), and the need to secure grants to keep the business community interest company (a social enterprise structure) afloat.
Focus on innovation and collaboration
Despite this, Eco Cascade is looking ahead. Their strength lies in research and collaboration. They have contributed to Innovate UK projects, are researching methods for wet stabilisation (allowing fresh seaweed to be preserved for months), and are actively seeking collaborations in contract processing and partners for new projects on machinery and processing technology.
“Ideally we want to work with people who have experience with seaweed. It’s nothing like drying herbs, grain, or milk. We want to share our knowledge and find better solutions together.”
North Sea Farmers warmly welcomes Eco Cascade to the community. Their expertise and facilities can make a real difference for European farmers and researchers.
“We want to do research projects. We’ve got the facilities and the need for building the seaweed farming industry is urgent.”
👉 Do you see opportunities for collaboration or joint research projects? Be sure to get in touch with Alison and her team.
