BUXTON, Maine (AP)   A Maine-based firm is receiving a $600,000 grant from the federal government to help develop a kelp-based additive for bread.

The company is VitaminSea of Buxton. Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree says the firm’s receiving the Small Business Innovation Research grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The product is called “SeaKelp+.”

VitaminSea also received a grant last year to show evidence of the feasibility of adding kelp to bread. Pingree says the new grant is a “phase two” award to help the company develop a prototype. The company will also partner with bakeries to develop their own recipes, and work on market testing.

A summary of the project says commercialization of the additive has the potential to “provide the nutritional benefits of consuming seaweed to a large population.”