Biotech company Seadling, following successful fundraising, commences operations at its new Malaysian facility, focusing on producing functional seaweed components
In an exciting development for the blue economy in Southeast Asia, biotech startup Seadling has launched a second processing facility in Malaysia. This new facility will significantly increase the production capacity of Seadling's fermented seaweed-based ingredients, with the ultimate goal of catering to both pet and human consumption markets.
The new facility, located in Malaysia, will enhance the processing and production of Seadling’s functional seaweed ingredients. This expansion is backed by a $1 million seed round co-led by investors such as AgFunder, The Yield Lab Asia Pacific, Toyo Seikan Group, Katapult Ocean, and KUL Loesningar 3.
Seadling works with farmers in Malaysian Borneo who cultivate Elkhorn Seamoss (Kappaphycus sp.), which is initially sprouted in a land-based hatchery and then fermented to enhance beneficial compounds like oligosaccharides (for gut health) and Vitamin K2 (for cardiovascular and bone health). The end product, after drying, milling, and packaging, is currently incorporated into pet food products.
The company sees this expansion as a step towards boosting Southeast Asia’s blue economy by sustainably developing seaweed aquaculture and processing. Seadling hopes to contribute to the region's productivity and economy by working directly with seaweed farms.
Elyas Eric, Seadling's communications manager, said the launch of the second facility is "a step forward" for Southeast Asia. He further added that the funding and new facility will enable Seadling to increase production capacity of its fermented, seaweed-based ingredients.
Industries view seaweed as both a health-boosting, all-natural ingredient and a way to mitigate climate impact in their supply chains. Seadling's plans for expansion into products for human consumption are set for 2027. The company also has plans for expansion in India and Thailand.
Seadling currently holds partnerships with Nestlé, Thai Union, and Mars, all companies with human food divisions as well. As the global seaweed output continues to grow, Seadling's expansion in Southeast Asia could play a significant role in the region's blue economy, potentially unlocking $15 trillion in value by 2050, according to Standard Chartered Bank estimates.
In efforts to further boost Southeast Asia's blue economy, Seadling's expansion, driven by a $1 million seed round, will not only scaling up the production capacity of its fermented seaweed ingredients but also extend to potential human consumption markets. This will allow the company to not only contribute to the region's productivity and economy through seaweed aquaculture and processing, but also align with industries' growing interest in seaweed as an all-natural ingredient with climate-mitigating capabilities.
