AgriSea's organic products, which are derived from a fermentation process of a sustainably harvested species of native New Zealand seaweed (ecklonia radiata), are in-demand from customers in the dairy, horticulture, viticulture, equine and dry stock industries. Apiculture is also using AgriSea's products.
Mr Bradley said the Bee Nutritional range is proving hugely popular with New Zealand commercial beekeepers.
"It contains all 10 of the essential amino acids along with a complex natural array of vitamins and minerals. We brew it with essential herbs for up to 90 days and provide it in an available form that can be easily consumed by honey bees."
Mr Bradley said feedback from beekeepers and industry partners indicated that the products improved the health, disease resistance and honey production of the bee population, and the Callaghan Innovation project grant would enable further product enhancement and enable scientists to gather data to prove its benefits.
He said that AgriSea had a long history of self-funded research and innovation, and he welcomed the opportunity to expand their research capabilities and expertise.
"The high-grade manuka honey industry is worth $200 million per year to New Zealand and that is predicted to reach $1 billion by 2028. Supporting the health of our honey bees is vitally important to the New Zealand primary industries and the economy.
Scientific validation of AgriSea bee products will benefit the bee industry through increased disease resistance and honey production."
Agrisea's business growth advisor Peter Davey, who helped them with their grant application, said the funding was significant.
"It demonstrates the fact that they are a robust, tenacious business and their products have real commercial potential worth investing in."
Callaghan Innovation project grants are designed to help businesses break new ground or push the boundaries with research and development to uncover new scientific or technical knowledge. Businesses typically receive 40 per cent of eligible research and development costs.
Total costs for the research project is expected to be about $195,000, and the $74,000 received includes GST.
Phil Anderson from Callaghan Innovation said that there is an increasing amount of money from bees and honey products and developing bee health solutions to improve the productivity of this sector has huge potential.
Jill Bradley and Keith Atwood created Agrisea 21 years ago, previously known as Ocean Organics developing organic biostimulants to support soil health for home gardeners.
In 2003, it started focusing on the agricultural, horticultural and viticulture industries.
"People are starting to place more importance on soil health," Mr Bradley said.
"Our focus is on encouraging farmers to reduce the chemical fertilisers they use on farm and introduce more sustainable biological farming strategies with our seaweed biostimulants, without compromising the farm's production or profit."
AgriSea has self-funded a seven-year research project into the environmental impact of harvesting ecklonia radiata seaweed from the ocean, with the view to creating a fisheries plan with the Ministry for Primary Industries to protect and support long-term sustainable harvesting of seaweed in New Zealand.
Mr Davey and Business Growth Services have provided advice and support with this project, with the long-term aim for export of seaweed biostimulants.
"The biostimulant industry is a huge, fast-growing sector worldwide," he said.
"We are mostly focused on the New Zealand market at the moment, but we do export to some clients in the US, Italy, Bahrain and Fiji. There is potential to grow our export market once a sustainable plan for harvesting seaweed is drawn up," he said.