Böd Ayre Products - Shetland's Best Kept Secret?

Imagine the most breath-taking location on the tranquil shores of North-East Shetland – where green and productive land rolls gently down to stoney beaches, populated by otters and migrating birds. Hardly the heart of industry, it would appear, but it was these very shores at Lunnaness that, back in 2000, provided the inspiration behind Bod Ayre Products.

Having decided to convert to organic farming methods on their 500 acre croft, Margaret and Michael Blance were desperately seeking a suitable natural fertiliser for their land. It was a chance glimpse of a farming programme on TV that provided them with the perfect solution – SEAWEED!! What’s more, there was an abundant supply right on their doorstep! Margaret explains, “The coastal waters around Shetland are a mixing zone for nutrients welling up from the depths of the Atlantic. Being one of the most productive areas of the global ocean means that seaweeds really thrive in the clean, clear waters”.

Months of frenetic internet research followed, culminating in a visit to a seaweed processing factory on the west coast of Ireland. “At the time, they only produced fertilizer in granular form”, continued Margaret. “However Michael remained convinced that the seaweed could be further refined into a liquid extract”.
Their quest led to the Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh, where staff researched the most natural method of extracting liquid from raw seaweed.

By June 2001, Böd Ayre was ready for a pilot run. “We started by selling the liquid in bottles with home-made labels at local shows.” says Margaret. “The demand and feedback was far greater than we ever imagined – it was quite humbling at times!”

Despite these modest beginnings, sales grew so that in 2003 Margaret and Michael industrialised the production line and Böd Ayre Products became a limited company. The business continues to go from strength to strength, thanks to financial assistance from Shetland Development Trust and Shetland Enterprise. Their fertilisers and animal feed supplements are now distributed directly to farmers and gardeners and sold in a number of retail outlets across the UK. However, the couple are acutely aware of the competitive nature of the agricultural and horticultural industry, and are continually looking to attract new buyers.

By listening carefully to their customers, Margaret and Michael have managed to target their products to meet individual needs. The Sea-X liquid extract is available in 500ml bottles for the gardener as well as 210 and 1000 litre containers for farmers spraying acres of fields. Also added to the fertiliser range are Sea –Feed soil conditioner, available in 4kg, 20kg and half tonne bags, Sea- Skeetie trigger sprays and sea-power dilutable powder. The results speak for themselves, with customers delighted with stronger, healthier plants and crops, higher yields and a greater resistance to pests, disease and frost.

Farmers nationwide are also now recognising the health benefits of Böd Ayre’s natural seaweed feed supplements for their animals. These range from 20kg ‘Lik Buckets’ containing Böd Ayre’s seaweed meal, minerals, organic grain and molasses, to liquid and granular supplements that can be conveniently added to feed troughs, tanks and drinking troughs. Research undertaken by the Norwegian Institute of Seaweed has shown that farmers feeding seaweed meal to their animals have reported increased growth and wool production in lambs, improved iodine content in milk and eggs and a reduction of intestinal parasites in pigs.

Margaret and Michael attribute the success of their company to three key factors – the environmentally-friendly, organic nature of their products (all are approved by the Scottish Organic Producers Association), the sustainable way in which the seaweed is harvested to allow regrowth, and that “personal touch” afforded to every customer. Margaret adds, “There is also a certain ‘aura’ attached to Shetland. Many people love the appeal of these northerly Isles surrounded by cool, clear waters, not forgetting our local dialect, of course!”

As any business owner will know, growth does not happen without a large dose of confidence, sheer determination and hard work, not to mention the ability to overcome a variety of obstacles on the way. Böd Ayre has recognised the need to both research new products and develop new markets. With that in mind, the company plans to expand its processing area in 2008 and is currently in talks with a number of interested parties to supply seaweed products to the lucrative food and cosmetics industries. Exciting times ahead!

For more information on Böd Ayre or any of its products, please phone
01806 577328, or register on our website at www.seaweedproducts.co.uk for a free 20g sachet of Sea-Power powder plant food (dilutes to make 10 litres)