Penny Wong visits Bellarine business

FOREIGN Affairs Minister Penny Wong took time out from the high-level Australia-Japan meetings this week to visit a Bellarine business benefiting from strong relations between the two countries.

Immersion Group, a Portarlington-based marine technology business, is developing Australia’s first commercial-scale Asparagopsis farm with investment from Japan.

The red seaweed, native to the region, contains a compound that can inhibit methane production in cattle and sheep by up to 80 per cent.

Ms Wong said it was great to see Bellarine businesses succeeding on the world stage.

“The Victorian business has developed a methane-reducing livestock feed, utilising a native red seaweed, and they’re partnering with Japan’s Nissui Corporation to establish new production facilities near Geelong, creating job opportunities in the region.

“Innovation and collaboration are key to Australia’s trade and investment relationship with Japan.”

In 2023, Japan’s Nissui Corporation, the second-largest seafood producer in the world, announced its investment in Immersion Group. The investment includes support to build a pilot plant to help scale the business.

Corangamite federal member Libby Coker, who attended the site with Ms Wong, said the company was punching above its weight and attracting interest both in Australia and overseas.

“Immersion is a local success story,” Ms Coker said.

“They started in Portarlington, growing the seaweed, but were impacted by water quality issues, following a flood.

“So the owners of the company thought, how can we do this in a more controlled way?

“They brought on a scientist and are now harvesting seedlings in pods which are placed into a controlled environment with the right light, water movement, and other components needed for successful growth.

“Now the company has Japanese investment they are keen to build a factory in the Portarlington region to operate at scale.”

Ms Coker said the product will not only help Australia meet its emissions reduction targets but could be sold globally as an additive for livestock feed, helping reduce emissions from cows, sheep, goats, and more.

“It will also mean more jobs for our region.”