An Outer Hebrides seaweed processing factory that supplies algae to feed top racing camels in Dubai is under new transatlantic ownership.
Uist Asco, based on North Uist, has been bought by Acadian Seaplants Limited (ASL) of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia for an undisclosed sum.
Set up in 2012, the company uses equipment powered by renewable energy to dry ascophyllum nodosum, or knotedwrack, seaweed, mainly for agricultural industries.
It has a core staff of three, headed by managing director Raghnall Maclain, and a list of around 40 cutters it calls upon for harvesting.
Acadian Seaplants Limited is a global, bio-tech company and the largest independent manufacturer of marine plant products of its type in the world.
The company’s president and chief executive Jean-Paul Deveau said: “I would like to acknowledge the achievements of Raghnall Maclain, who, with the support of his family, has brought Uist Asco to this stage of development.
“We are very much looking forward to continuing this time-honoured tradition by sharing our technologies, expertise and making the investments necessary to address any challenges to ensure the local seaweed industry prospers.”
Last month Uist Asco shipped a three ton consignment of dried seaweed 3,800 miles to fuel the prize camels in the United Arab Emirates. The company has also exported its product to be used as a fertiliser on golf courses in Europe.
Mr MacIain said: “We are very pleased with the level of investment that Acadian Seaplants brings to Uist Asco and their support for the harvesting industry in North Uist.
“We look forward to growth of both the company operations and the local seaweed industry.”
