The Seaweed Company Green Turtle has celebrated the official opening of its Downings facility, representing the exciting expansion of its Irish operations.
The largest seaweed farm in Ireland exists in the pristine waters of Mulroy Bay. The Downings processing plant has been built to cut, dry and package the freshly harvested produce.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue was on hand to cut the seaweed ribbon on Friday.
Minister McConalogue said the facility was an extremely positive step for the local community and the aquaculture sector as a whole.
The Donegal Minister commended the company owners Joost Wouters, Stefan Krann, and Lorraine Gallagher for their hard work and dedication to the seafood sector.
“Your investment in innovation and this facility reflects your passion and strong commitment to the industry, and indeed the local community here in Donegal. It is always a pleasure to support innovation in the seafood sector. Even more so, to support an enterprise such as the Seaweed Company Green Turtle which is seeking to realise the potential of seaweed as a cornerstone of sustainable aquaculture,” he said.
“Seaweed is a highly versatile product, yet its potential remains underdeveloped. Ireland, with its rich maritime heritage and vast coastline, is uniquely positioned to lead in seaweed production. We have the resources and, as showcased here today, the expertise and the passion to drive the industry forward. By leveraging those assets and talents Ireland has the potential to establish itself as a frontrunner in the European seaweed market,” Minister McConalogue added.
Minister McConalogue with Lorraine Gallagher at the official opening.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, pictured with Dutch Ambassador to Ireland, Maaike van Koldam.
The Seaweed Company cultivates the edible seaweed Alaria as a food source. The tasty Alaria forms the main ingredient of the SeaMeat® product, a blend that is being used to create hybrid meat products, such as burgers with 25% less meat.
Minister McConalogue added: “The history of seaweed is very much intertwined with so many parts of our culture. That has become less so in recent recent years like so many other things. It was a big part of our heritage for a very good reason because it is a wonderful product. Like so many other aspects of our lives, we are rediscovering the wisdom of the people who came before us and bringing that back into our lives.
“And as we look towards ramping up the industry to scaled production, ongoing support will assist the sector in realising its full potential value by 2030. As Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, I remain committed to securing the maximum support for the sector,” he commented.
Minister McConalogue pictured with three generations of the Gallagher family.
