Background

Seaweed is a versatile resource with many applications in many different fields, such as nutrition, fertilisers and cosmetics. Certain types of seaweeds, such as Asparagopsis, have been shown to inhibit methane production in ruminant animals which can improve formation of fatty acids essential to ruminant nutrition. It is believed that this may improve the growth factor of a ruminant animal and it is postulated that methane inhibition is achieved through halogenated metabolites thereof, such as bromoform.

Commercial-scale Asparagopsis cultivation will likely be restricted to land-based systems or relatively sheltered nearshore waters. As interest grows in scaling up Asparagopsis cultivation, there is also increasing recognition of the potential role of microbiomes in modulating growth and chemical profiles. Targeted manipulation of epiphytic bacterial communities may offer opportunities to enhance not only biomass yield but also the concentration and stability of key natural products.

Technology overview

This patented technology is directed to a probiotic composition comprising a plurality of bacterial species selected from the following families: Halomonadaceae, Pseudoalteromonadaceae, Alteromonadaceae and/or Pseudomonadaceae. These probiotic compositions are intended to be used in altering the surface associated bacterial communities on aquatic plants and/or algae, and/or increasing the growth factor of aquatic plants and/or algae, and/or increasing the bioactive compound content or concentration in aquatic plants and/or algae.

Benefits

• Enhanced biomass yield in seaweed cultivation.
• Increased bioactive compound content in probiotic treated aquatic plants.

Intellectual property

An Australian provisional patent application No. 2025904086 titled “Composition for Altering the Bacterial Communities on Cultures of Algae and/or Aquatic Plants” was filed on 4 September 2025. Prior art searches have not revealed any documents or patents indicating prior discovery of the methodology. It is intended that patent protection will be sought in the major markets including the United States of America, Canada, Europe, Japan, Australia and other major seaweed cultivation countries.

Applications

• Nutrition, fertilisers and cosmetics
• Methane inhibition in ruminants

Commercial opportunity

UniSC is seeking a commercialisation partner for the development and deployment of the Technology, in the target applications.

The commercialisation strategy for this technology is to demonstrate efficacy for a range of probiotic compositions in different seaweeds and to take the novel probiotic compositions into commercial production for application in seaweed cultivation.

Brief note on scientific founders

Dr Silvia Blanco González – is an environmental scientist with a PhD from UniSC (Australia) on the culture and bioactive natural products of the red seaweed Asparagopsis taxiformis who also holds a  Masters in Aquaculture and Fisheries from the University of the Algarve (Portugal) and aa Masters in Chemical Science and Technology from the UNED (Spain). In 2018 she moved to Bantry Marine Research Station Ltd. (Ireland), where she worked for three years on a nationally funded project focused on the cultivation of Alaria esculenta and the characterisation and quantification of its bioactive compounds. During this period, she also managed the seaweed farm operations. Between 2018 and 2019, she contributed to the Methane Reduction in Cattle project, funded by Bord Iascaigh Mhara, which aimed to quantify bromoform in different seaweed species present in Irish waters.   

Professor Nick Paul – is a biologist in the School of Science, Technology and Engineering. He leads applied R&D on seaweed and algae for new product development, based upon a platform of sustainable production. He is the project leader on two international research for development projects, focussed on domesticating new species, creating new culture techniques and developing bio products for farmed seaweed in the Indo-Pacific region. His interests in Australia revolve around high-value products, including functional food and nutraceuticals for human health as well as bio actives for livestock and agriculture. Because of its sustainability focus, this research has led to some unusual deviations from traditional aquaculture, working with sewage, coal-fired power stations and mining and mineral wastes.

Dr Martina Jelocnik - leads the “Molecular Chlamydia” research team that investigates key questions in the molecular epidemiology, zoonotic potential, control and diagnosis of veterinary chlamydia. Martina’s research is focused on fine-detailed molecular epidemiology of chlamydial infections in Australian livestock as well as wildlife, employing novel molecular approaches. She also works on development of molecular diagnostics focusing on end-user product and application with industry partners.

Contact the Office of Research

• Phone: +61 7 54594796
• Email: [email protected]