Imagine farming the ocean like we farm land, but using special seaweed that grows faster and stronger. This project figures out how to grow these plants at a huge scale and then use a 'biorefinery'—like a high-tech kitchen—to break them down into useful ingredients. It turns salty greenery into everything from healthy snacks to skincare creams.
The European seaweed industry is underdeveloped and lacks the scale and processing techniques needed to be commercially viable. Companies struggle with biomass yields and regulatory barriers like heavy metal contamination.
A value chain for seaweed including selective breeding for higher yields and biorefinery methods (fermentation, co-extraction) to create 12 distinct marketable products.
If you are a supplement manufacturer dealing with a lack of sustainable, bio-based active ingredients — this project developed 12 seaweed-based marketable products that provide high-value functional additives for healthcare.
If you are a feed producer dealing with the need for climate-friendly protein sources — this project developed functional feed ingredients through selective breeding and fermentation that improve biomass yield.
If you are a skincare brand dealing with the demand for ocean-derived, sustainable raw materials — this project developed fractionation and co-extraction techniques to create high-value cosmetic ingredients.
Based on available project data, specific pricing is not provided, but the project is conducting techno-economic assessments to ensure the value chain is attractive for commercial investments.
Yes, the project specifically focuses on scaling up cultivation on land and in the open ocean, utilizing selective breeding to increase biomass yield.
Based on available project data, the project focuses on developing go-to-market strategies and business models, though specific licensing terms are not detailed.
The project aims to alleviate market barriers specifically related to heavy metal levels to streamline the introduction of new products to the market.
The project period runs from 2022-07-01 to 2026-06-30, indicating that full market readiness is targeted toward the end of this window.
The consortium is heavily weighted toward commercial application, with 12 industry partners (48% of the group) and 7 SMEs. This strong industrial presence, combined with 7 universities and 4 research centers across 12 countries, suggests a high priority on market viability and the practical transition from lab to factory.
Contact SPF OCEAN RAINFOREST regarding seaweed biorefinery applications.
Contact us to connect with the SeaMark consortium for licensing seaweed-based ingredients.
