Scottish Company Unveils Ambitious Plans to Create 100+ New Jobs in Grangemouth

Image Credit: MiAlgae

A Scottish biotech firm is turning heads—and whisky by-products—into a sustainable solution for the global Omega-3 market. MiAlgae, known for its innovative method of repurposing waste from the whisky industry to cultivate microalgae, has submitted plans for a new production site in Grangemouth. The firm aims to scale operations and unlock over 100 new green jobs in the region.

The proposed facility, strategically placed near local distilleries, is central to the company’s ambition to ramp up production while keeping its operations circular and carbon-conscious. If approved, the expansion will enable MiAlgae to meet growing demand from the aquaculture and pet food sectors, which are urgently seeking sustainable alternatives to fish-derived Omega-3s.

MiAlgae is also exploring untapped opportunities in meat substitutes, nutraceuticals, and livestock feed, positioning itself at the intersection of biotechnology and ethical innovation.

Douglas Martin, founder and managing director of MiAlgae, said: "Grangemouth has incredible potential for us as we look to the next stage of our growth.

"This location offers an ideal position to support our scaling efforts and meet the increasing demand for our  'biotech for good' solutions, with the creation of green jobs across engineering, production, and research and development.

"We are confident that this new facility will help build a greener future and bring high-quality, sustainable jobs to the local community.

"The area has a rich industrial history, and we’re proud to contribute to its evolution."

The development aligns closely with Project Willow, a government-backed initiative encouraging the transition of Grangemouth into a hub for green industries. Backed by a joint venture between the UK and Scottish Governments and Petroineos, Project Willow evaluates over 300 clean technologies to help reimagine the town’s industrial future.

This comes as Petroineos proceeds with plans to shutter the Grangemouth oil refinery, replacing it with an import terminal and retaining just 65 of the original 500 jobs. In the fallout, 377 employees have opted for voluntary redundancy, while 28 roles were made compulsory redundant.

Martin added: "MiAlgae is at exactly the right stage of growth to contribute to the success of Project Willow. We are proven at scale, there is market demand for our product and we’re championing biotechnology in Scotland.

"We’re looking forward to working closely with local stakeholders and the Scottish Government to make this vision a reality."