Sustainability Award
Transforming complex IP challenges into a robust strategic asset for a circular economy – creating jobs and tackling global food security issues in the process.
MiAlgae, a pioneering biotech start-up and Scotland’s first Earthshot Prize finalist, is revolutionising sustainable food production with a groundbreaking, low-carbon fish oil alternative – Omega 3-rich microalgae cultivated from whisky by-products.
This ingenious solution protects our marine life and oceans by addressing the urgent need to reduce fish oil dependence.
The global target is a 10% reduction.
It also contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals 2 (zero hunger) and 12 (responsible consumption and production through circular economy principles, transforming waste into a valuable resource).
As MiAlgae prepared to scale commercially, it faced a critical barrier. The biotech and algae sectors have complex patent landscapes, so a robust intellectual property (IP) strategy was essential.
Deloitte, a Global Alliance Member of The Earthshot Prize, partnered with law firm Pinsent Masons to empower MiAlgae to grow.
Working pro bono, we delivered a clear picture of MiAlgae’s IP assets and risk exposure, an innovation and IP roadmap, prioritised mitigation actions, and board-ready materials to support investor engagementDeeper legal insight has embedded IP governance within MiAlgae, enabled new product research and advanced the company’s competitiveness in larger markets. This positions MiAlgae well for future development as it scales, having launched a sustainable algal Omega-3 production facility in Grangemouth, supported by £1.5 million from the Scottish Government’s Just Transition Funding, supporting up to 310 jobs over the next five years.
Without this intervention, MiAlgae’s R&D innovation would have faced material legal uncertainty, longer timelines and resourcing risk. Now, a high-impact circular solution can scale with confidence.
View the profile in the MCA Members Directory.