SPF OCEAN RAINFOREST

Their core work

Ocean Rainforest is a Faroese company specializing in open-ocean macroalgae (seaweed) cultivation. They grow seaweed at scale in Atlantic waters and contribute expertise in marine biomass production to EU research consortia focused on biorefinery applications and sustainable aquaculture. Their work spans the value chain from offshore seaweed farming to cascading uses of macroalgal biomass for food, feed, and bio-based products. As a Faroe Islands-based SME, they bring unique hands-on experience in harsh North Atlantic growing conditions.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Ocean Rainforest's H2020 journey shows a clear broadening from industrial biomass processing toward living marine ecosystems. Their earliest project (MACRO CASCADE, 2016) focused on extracting value from harvested seaweed through biorefinery cascading — essentially an industrial processing challenge. By 2019, AquaVitae shifted attention to multi-species aquaculture systems where macroalgae is grown alongside sea urchins, mussels, and oysters, reflecting a move toward ecosystem-integrated production. The trajectory suggests a company evolving from seaweed-as-feedstock toward seaweed-as-part-of-a-living-system.

Moving toward ecosystem-based aquaculture where seaweed cultivation is combined with shellfish and echinoderms, positioning them for the growing IMTA market in the Atlantic.

How they like to work

Ocean Rainforest operates exclusively as a participant or third party — they have never coordinated an H2020 project. This is typical for a specialized SME that contributes domain expertise (open-ocean seaweed farming) rather than managing large consortia. Despite only three projects, they have connected with 74 unique partners across 18 countries, indicating they join large, international consortia where their niche capability fills a specific gap.

Remarkably broad network for a small Faroese company: 74 unique partners across 18 countries through just 3 projects. This reflects participation in large EU consortia (AquaVitae alone is a major transatlantic initiative), giving them reach far beyond what their size would suggest.

What sets them apart

Ocean Rainforest is one of very few companies in the world operating commercial-scale open-ocean seaweed farms in North Atlantic conditions. Based in the Faroe Islands, they offer real production data and operational experience from some of Europe's most demanding marine environments. For any consortium needing a partner who actually grows macroalgae at sea — not just in a lab — they are a rare and credible choice.

Highlights from their portfolio

• MACRO CASCADE
  Their largest funded project (EUR 544K), focused on cascading biorefinery from marine macroalgae — directly aligned with their core seaweed production business
• AquaVitae
  Major transatlantic aquaculture project targeting new species and IMTA systems, reflecting their strategic shift toward integrated marine farming beyond pure seaweed