Agrisea borrows $750k from govt to commercialise new biotech

Agrisea borrows $750k from govt to commercialise new biotech
Agrisea has developed a new nanocellulose hydrogel that could replace some petrochemical products. (Image: Scion)
Ben Moore
Agrisea, a Māori-owned biotech company, has secured a $750,000 loan from the government’s regional strategic partnership fund to help expand its production facility in Paeroa.A family-owned and operated business, Agrisea first made its name producing seaweed-derived supplements for fertilisers.Seaweed biotechThe cash injection will pay for half of a $1.5 million project to upgrade the company’s seaweed processing plant. Then it can commercially produce its recently developed nanocellulose hydrogel.The hydrogel has potential to be us...