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S J McFarlaneHow was Glycan discoveredIt started when I was formulating a natural fertilizer to utilize protein waste from a saltwater recycling abalone/paua farm. The formulation lacked trace elements which could be supplied by including seaweed, however the usual method of processing seaweed (fermentation) was smelly and most of the nutrients were lost during this process. I found that it was possible to break down the seaweed in a matter of 2-3 weeks (against months for fermentation) without smell and while retaining the essential nutrients. This was done by using an enzyme from a waste product. This fertilizer is being sold as a Certified Organic product. While the above is not directly related to the production of Glycans it did show that different seaweed had vastly different characteristics and instigated further research that resulted in the isolating and formulation of Glycan. To date only one species of seaweed is being processed, however I am trialling other species from countries other than NZ, time will tell how successful these trials will be. My involvement, in the sea and marine products commenced, in my younger years when I was skipper and owner of commercial fishing vessels and was involved in dredging mussels. It was obvious that the natural mussel beds were being depleted, so in the 1960s I commenced experimenting in the farming of the NZ green lipped mussel. Many years later this was successful and I established the first commercial mussel farm in NZ at Waiheke Island in Auckland. With a colleague John Croft we travelled to Marlbourgh Sounds in the South Island of NZ and advised the local people on where and how to establish mussels farms. I left the industry in the 1980s. It is now an industry exporting around $70 million of mussels per year. From the mussels we farmed in the early years, John and I developed a product Seatone which is still a success story. I have now come in a full circle and produce a product which is a pure extract from the green lipped mussel and will be available in the market in the near future. which is a pure extract from the green lipped mussel and will be available in the market in the near future.
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