Eden Mill teams up with biotech MiAlgae

Scottish distillery Eden Mill has partnered with biotech company MiAlgae to repurpose whisky effluent, a by-product of distillation.

In this first-of-its-kind partnership with a distillery, MiAlgae – an Earthshot Prize finalist – will use whisky by-products from Eden Mill’s distillation process to nurture Omega-3-rich micro-algae.

The Scottish biotech company’s process operates at scale and is cost-effective, ensuring sustainability remains affordable without compromising impact.

Global demand for Omega-3s, traditionally sourced from wild-caught fish, drives unsustainable overfishing, with 16 million tonnes of wild oceanic fish caught annually.

MiAlgae offers a circular solution by growing algae – the original source of Omega-3s – through an ‘innovative’ process that eliminates the need for fish, ensuring a stable and sustainable supply of these essential nutrients.

Douglas Martin, founder and managing director at MiAlgae, said: “By partnering with Eden Mill, we will use nutrients from their distillery by-products to grow our eco-friendly Omega-3-rich micro-algae. 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 will install an effluent storage tank at its distillery in October as it progresses toward completing its brand home, located seven minutes from St Andrews.

Due to recommence distillation early in 2025, Eden Mill will open its doors to visitors from spring onwards.

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

Eden Mill will distil gin and single malt Scotch whisky in its new distillery, which will also feature a retail space and café, as well as a bar on the top floor looking out over the Eden estuary.

More details on the visitor centre and ticket bookings will be available soon.

In July this year, the distillery released its 2024 edition in the Art of St Andrews whisky range.

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Author: Miona Madsen