Welcome Immersion Group

Immersion Group’s offshore aquaculture site in Victoria

FutureFeed is pleased to commence 2023 by welcoming Immersion Group as its newest licensee.

With offshore and onshore Asparagopsis operations in Victoria and Western Australia, Immersion Group was co-founded by environmental scientist Scott Elliott and University of Western Australia aquaculture expert Dr John Statton.

“John and I had been working together for many years in the marine restoration space,” Immersion Group CEO Scott Elliott said.

“We looked at the opportunity around Asparagopsis, given John’s lengthy aquaculture experience and my project management and farming background.”

Immersion Group will produce both freeze-dried and oil-based Asparagopsis for use as a livestock feed ingredient, capable of reducing livestock methane emissions by more than 80 per cent.

“As someone who grew up on a wheat and sheep property that was decimated by climate change and who ultimately went on to become an environmental scientist, I’ve lived this in many respects. I’ve seen it on all sides.”

Immersion Group has developed an onshore production system which achieves exceptionally high levels of Asparagopsis production per hectare.

“We’re extremely happy with what we are achieving. And we are producing Asparagopsis with high levels of bromoform, which is obviously the ‘magic’ ingredient that we’re in the business of producing.”

Bromoform is the main anti-methanogenic bioactive ingredient in Asparagopsis seaweed.

Another advantage Immersion Group has is its location in Victoria. Wherever possible, Asparagopsis should be grown and supplied to local red meat and dairy producers so that an excessive carbon footprint is not created from the transportation of goods.

“Where we are located in Victoria, near Geelong, we have about two thirds of Australia's national dairy herd of 2.3 million head on our back doorstep,” Elliott said.

“The south west of Victoria is a very proud dairying area. We are getting a lot of interest from big companies down here wanting to offer a premium dairy product and brand that is carbon neutral.

“The most exciting part is the opportunity to collaborate with like-minded farmers, and indeed rural managers, who want to make a change in their production systems with respect to methane emissions. We have the opportunity to have a tangible impact upon climate change.”

Thanks to the efforts of its licensees, FutureFeed is commercialising the use of Asparagopsis as a livestock feed ingredient. FutureFeed’s licences provide livestock market access for Asparagopsis producers and ensure the technology is rolled out in a safe and sustainable way.

“We’re very grateful to FutureFeed for the opportunity to become licensees. Reputationally, it brings a lot to the table – it’s a trust marker, and we don’t take it lightly,” Elliott said.

About FutureFeed:

FutureFeed holds the global IP rights to technology developed by CSIRO, Meat and Livestock Australia and James Cook University and is commercialising the use of Asparagopsis seaweed to lower methane emissions from ruminant animals. It supports the growth of the value chain by working with partners to drive adoption of the use of Asparagopsis as a feed ingredient for livestock to reduce methane emissions.

Our licence agreement and research projects can change the way industry and consumers will behave and perceive methane reduction in livestock.

Media enquiries: media@futurefeed.com.au