Executive Summary: Mamaku by-product utilisation

Summary of Project and Key Findings (for public disclosure):
Ora Innovation NZ Ltd (OINZL) produces mamaku (Cyathea medullaris) extract for skincare applications. As production scales up to the processing of 7 tonnes of raw mamaku per week by 2030, an equivalent quantity of mamaku pulp by-product will be generated. This material, currently returned to land as mulch, contains valuable organic matter, fibres, complex polysaccharides, and residual bioactive compounds. Its composition suggests potential for value-added soil amendment products and or plant-derived cleaning product ingredients.

This Techno-Economic Assessment (TEA) evaluates the technical feasibility, capital and operating costs, and market opportunity for converting mamaku pulp into dried powder or pellets for these downstream opportunities.

Key Findings

• Fully operational OINZL could be producing up to 8,400 kg of dried mamaku powder annually.
  – Flash drying is the most suitable production technology, with a low capital cost (~$15,900) and high throughput (up to 600 kg/h), when compared to convective or freeze-drying
• Freeze-drying, while preserving heat-sensitive bioactives, has very high CapEx and OpEx, making it suitable only for the manufacture of premium/high-value niche product.
  – Estimated manufacturing cost ranges from $16.85–$30.78 per kg, depending on drying technology.
• Soil amendment products in NZ retail from $4.75 to $120 per kg depending on application (bulk agricultural vs professional horticultural use).
  – Break-even sales price for mamaku product: $16.85–$30.78/kg
  – High-value horticultural positioning ($40–$120/kg) offers strong margins
• For the rapidly growing market in plant-derived laundry products – particularly in China, the mamaku extract will likely require further fractionation and further testing for efficacy.

Catalogue of IP Generated by the Project (kept confidential to the BPA)
TEA report for utilisation of Mamaku pulp. All IP supplied by OINZL, and all information and IP generated through the process of this techno-economic assessment. The key produced IP is contained within the recommendations specific to next stages of this work, and how they pertain to OINZL as a business.

Statement from the industry partner describing the business impact of the project (kept confidential to the BPA):
Through this process, ONIZL have been able to identify the potential market implication of developing a range of products from their Mamaku pulp. This has culminated in the following opportunities and key recommendations for next steps:

Opportunities

• Mamaku offers a unique indigenous plant story, strong alignment with circular economy principles, and natural bioactive content.
• In soil amendment markets, mamaku could be positioned for improving soil biology, moisture retention, plant stress reduction, or foliar surfactant-like functionality.
• In cleaning products, mamaku polysaccharides and phenolics may offer viscosity modification, deodorizing, antimicrobial, or natural surfactant-like behaviour, pending research.

Key Recommendations

• Pilot test drying technologies (flash drying and freeze-drying) to confirm feasibility and quality outcomes.
• Evaluate whether fractionation (polysaccharides, phenolics, lignin) can yield higher-value product streams
• Demonstrate efficacy of mamaku pulp in soil and/or plant health applications (controlled trials, soil biology testing) and as a laundry cleaner.
• Engage specialist soil amendment manufacturers (e.g., Seacliff Organics, AgriSea) to co-develop formulations.
• Conduct market validation and product positioning studies for NZ and export markets.

TRL at start of project = 0
TRL at end of project = 1