Grant awarded to Paeroa company to study the nutritional needs of bees

It may well be the biggest thing to come out of Paeroa since L&P. 

Paeroa-based biostimulant company AgriSea NZ Seaweed Ltd has just been awarded a project grant from Callaghan Innovation for $74,000. The grant will go towards research and development of their bioactive products and the nutritional needs of honey bees. 

“This grant recognises the innovation happening at AgriSea and will continue to grow our R&D capabilities,” said Agrisea general manager Tane Bradley. “To date there is limited scientific data around the nutritional needs of the honey bee so this is really important.” 

AgriSea’s organic products, which are derived from a unique fermentation process of a sustainably harvested species of native New Zealand seaweed (ecklonia radiata), are in-demand from customers in the dairy, horticulture, viticulture, equine and dry stock industries. Apiculture – or bee keeping – is also an industry which is using AgriSea’s range of specialist products. 

“Our Bee Nutritional range is proving hugely popular with New Zealand commercial beekeepers,” said Mr Bradley. “It contains all 10 of the essential amino acids along with a complex natural array of vitamins and minerals. We brew it with essential herbs for up to 90 days and provide it in an available form that can be easily consumed by honey bees.” 

Mr Bradley said feedback from beekeepers and industry partners indicated that the products improved the health, disease resistance and honey production of the bee population, and the Callaghan Innovation project grant would enable further product enhancement and enable scientists to gather data to prove its benefits. 

Dr Mark Goodwin, the head of Plant & Food Research’s bee unit, will lead the inquiry along with a team of scientists from University of Auckland. 

Mr Bradley said that AgriSea had a long history of self-funded research and innovation, and he welcomed the opportunity to expand their research capabilities and expertise. 

“We are really excited about the potential of this research,” said Mr Bradley. “The high-grade manuka honey industry is worth $200 million per year to New Zealand and that is predicted to reach $1billion by 2028. Supporting the health of our honey bees is vitally important to the New Zealand primary industries and the economy. Scientific validation of AgriSea bee products will benefit the bee industry through increased disease resistance and honey production.” 

Callaghan Innovation project grants are designed to help businesses break new ground or push the boundaries with research and development to uncover new scientific or technical knowledge. Businesses typically receive 40 per cent of eligible research and development costs. Total costs for the research project is expected to be around $195,000, and the $74,000 received includes GST. 

Phil Anderson from Callaghan Innovation said “New Zealand derives an increasing amount of money from bees and honey products so developing bee health solutions to improve the productivity of this sector has huge potential.” 

Agrisea’s business growth advisor Peter Davey, who helped them with their grant application, said the funding was significant.

“It demonstrates the fact that they are a robust, tenacious business and their products have real commercial potential worth investing in,” said Mr Davey, who is part of the Waikato Innovation Park Business Growth Services team. “They are clearly an innovative company and further investigation into the nutritional needs of honey bees and the role of seaweed-based biostimulants is a business case worth backing.” 

Mr Davey has been working with AgriSea since 2012, offering advice and support. The Business Growth Services team – which offers business advice to entrepreneurs across Waikato, Hauraki and the Coromandel – is funded by the Regional Business Partner Network (RBPN), a central government initiative to help build business capability for growth. RBPN is led by New Zealand Trade & Enterprise (NZTE) and Callaghan Innovation. Their aim is to support businesses that have high-growth aspirations and are also export focused, technology-driven or have innovative products or services with real commercial merit. 

Mr Bradley said AgriSea had also benefitted from other financial backing to grow their business, including use of NZTE vouchers. The vouchers, which are funded by RBPN, paid for 50 per cent of the costs for staff to train in specialist areas including leadership, marketing and sales, up to $5000. 

Agrisea began 21 years ago as the dream of couple Jill Bradley and Keith Atwood. They saw the huge potential for organic biostimulants brewed from NZ seaweed to support soil health. The brand began as Ocean Organics, focused on home gardeners. In 2003 AgriSea New Zealand Seaweed Ltd was born as a new separate business focused on the agricultural, horticultural and viticulture industries.

“People are starting to place more importance on soil health,” said Mr Bradley. “AgriSea’s focus is on encouraging farmers to reduce the chemical fertilisers they use on farm and introduce more sustainable biological farming strategies with our seaweed biostimulants, without compromising the farm’s production or profit.” 

AgriSea has evolved from a small family business to a successful national brand which has won multiple awards. They have 32 staff and sales have increased 20 per cent over the past year. The company has recently launched several new products including seaweed infused salt blocks and a range of slow release granules that are able to be incorporated into in base fertilisers for farmers. 

AgriSea has self-funded a seven-year research project into the environmental impact of harvesting ecklonia radiata seaweed from the ocean, with the view to creating a fisheries plan with the Ministry for Primary Industries to protect and support long-term sustainable harvesting of seaweed in New Zealand. Mr Davey and Business Growth Services have provided advice and support with this project, with the long-term aim for export of seaweed biostimulants.

“The biostimulant industry is a huge, fast-growing sector worldwide,” said Mr Bradley. “We are mostly focused on the New Zealand market at the moment, but we do export to some clients in the US, Italy, Bahrain and Fiji. There is potential to grow our export market once a sustainable plan for harvesting seaweed is drawn up.” 

Mr Davey has also assisted AgriSea by introducing them to key organisations and individuals, including Auckland University’s Biocides team.

“Since that introduction we have employed a new full-time doctor of fermentation, and in the eight months he has been with us we have made significant advancements in both ferment techniques and brew enhancement,” said Mr Davey. “Peter provides more than just advice,” said Mr Bradley. “He provides a pathway forward to further our business, to continue to grow.” 

People interested in getting advice and support for their new business idea, product or service can contact 07 857 0538 or businessgrowth@wipltd.co.nz.

For more information see wipltd.co.nz/what-we-do/grow-your-business and callaghaninnovation.govt.nz/grants/project-grants For more information on AgriSea visit www.agrisea.co.nz.