Fremantle Seaweed Expands Onshore Operations to Cut Livestock Methane Emissions
Perth, Friday, 16 October 2026.
Fremantle Seaweed acquired onshore production technology to scale seaweed cultivation, aiming for commercial distribution by 2027 to help livestock farmers reduce methane emissions by over 80 percent.
Strategic Acquisition and Commercial Timeline
On 16 October 2026, Western Australia-based Fremantle Seaweed announced the acquisition of onshore nursery and seaweed production technology from FutureFeed to accelerate commercial scale-up [1][2]. This strategic move aims to establish a reliable commercial supply chain by 2027, serving agribusinesses facing heightened market and regulatory pressure to reduce carbon footprints [1]. Fremantle Seaweed has operated as a cultivation partner of the CSIRO-established company FutureFeed since March 2025 [1][2]. The acquisition enables the company to target initial commercial sales of Asparagopsis for 2027 to meet demand for a feed supplement proven to reduce ruminant methane emissions by 80 percent [1][2].
Infrastructure and Cultivation Capabilities
The acquisition facilitates the dual cultivation of Asparagopsis, combining the gametophyte phase in open ocean systems with the tetrasporophyte phase in onshore tank systems [1]. In April 2026, Fremantle Seaweed purchased an ocean-backed facility at 20 Mews Road, Fremantle, supported by funding to facilitate the transition from R&D to commercial-scale production [1][2]. Since 2023, the company has cultivated Asparagopsis at Cockburn Sound, Western Australia, and now integrates onshore nursery technology to scale cultivation for cattle feed production [1][3]. Fremantle Seaweed operates a 32-hectare marine lease in Derbal Nara, Cockburn Sound, alongside the hatchery and processing facility at 20 Mews Road [3].
Financial Backing and Environmental Impact
Funding secured by Fremantle Seaweed includes $4 million in seed funding and $4 million from the Western Australian Government’s Investment Attraction Fund [2][3]. In July 2026, Fremantle Seaweed secured an intellectual property licence from FutureFeed to commercially sell Asparagopsis supplements to Australian beef and dairy producers [3]. The company estimates that ocean-based cultivation reduces production costs by approximately 60 percent compared to land-based models which rely on energy-intensive infrastructure [3]. Fremantle Seaweed aims to produce up to 576 tonnes of supplement annually by utilizing its current lease and a proposed 160-hectare lease expansion [3].