Seaweed based market applications

Project Information

SeaMark

Grant agreement ID: 101060379

DOI

10.3030/101060379

Project closed

EC signature date 9 June 2022

Start date 1 July 2022

End date 30 June 2026

Funded under

• Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment

Total cost

€ 10 114 239,50

EU contribution

€ 8 279 720,25

Coordinated by

SPF OCEAN RAINFOREST
Faroes

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - SeaMark (Seaweed based market applications)

Reporting period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-06-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

SeaMark will scale up sustainable cultivation of seaweeds on land and in the open ocean to develop and demonstrate various pre-processing and fractionation techniques, coupled with biorefinery methods, co-extraction, and fermentation processes. The processing will result in highly processed value-added products for industries with 12 seaweed-based marketable products, contributing to market segments such as functional feed, healthy and climate-friendly food, cosmetics, nutraceuticals, healthcare, and pharmaceuticals. The anticipated impacts extend beyond mechanisation and product development, presenting competitive business models, go-to-market strategies, techno-economic and life cycle assessments. SeaMark's pathway to impact is multi-faceted, with strategic communication and industrial engagement at its core. The project envisions influencing policymakers, industrial stakeholders, and investors through dedicated webinars, workshops, and reports. The project aims to make the entire value chain attractive for commercial investments. SeaMark is positioned to enhance European economic resilience by diversifying value chains, leaving a lasting legacy and creating a ripple effect, fostering a broader understanding of the scientific, economic, and societal value of marine seaweed refinery for the European region. The project will provide scientific evidence of ecosystem services and climate change mitigation through environmental benefit and risk analyses, facilitating the green transition. It also aims to alleviate market barriers related to heavy metal levels, streamlining the market introduction of new seaweed-based products. SeaMark will contribute to building capacity among regulators, policymakers, NGOs, and citizens to understand the economic and environmental benefits. The project intends to provide scientific evidence supporting legislative and financial measures, fostering political awareness and intervention for upscaling the seaweed industry. In essence, SeaMark aspires to revolutionize seaweed utilization, presenting a comprehensive and sustainable solution to industries while contributing to environmental conservation and economic growth in Europe.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

At project month 36 the SeaMark consortium can report the following achievements: 1) Through breeding work of commercially interesting seaweed strains (Ulva sp. and Saccharina latissima), research partners, the National Centre for Scientific Research in Roscoff and the National University of Ireland in Galway, have identified high-growth and stress-tolerant strains that will be tested in situ to validate yield potential under real cultivation conditions; 2) A mechanised high-speed seeding machine was developed by partners Sirputis and Ocean Rainforest, and successfully tested at commercial scale. The machine significantly reduces seeding costs while enabling faster, more efficient direct seeding, capable of processing 3 km of grow line per hour; 3) Large-scale biorefinery of S. latissima has been carried out by Oceanium, resulting in the extraction of fucoidan, beta-glucan, food-grade fibre, and materials-grade fibre products. Validation work has been conducted to develop fucoidan-rich and fibre products to TRL level 8; 4) The pre-processing and fermentation of S. latissima was improved and demonstrated by Ocean Rainforest, through continuous washing, grinding and blanching. In-depth fermentation trials by Aalborg University led to better process control, reduced bloating, and higher lactic acid concentration; 5) Algaia successfully co-extracted fucoidan and alginate with a single-step technique using fewer chemicals and less water, showing commercial potential to reduce processing costs; 6) Industry-relevant enzymes for alginate and laminarin oligosaccharide production were identified and applied by research partners Matis, the Technical University of Denmark and Lund University, and the immunomodulatory effects of the refined oligosaccharides were tested in cell-culture studies, demonstrating size- and structure-dependent anti- or pro-inflammatory activity with potential applications in health-beneficial food products, therapies, and vaccines; 7) Nofima conducted a market assessment of seaweed-based products, providing the foundation for developing promising business models; 8) A value chain assessment by Sjókovin highlighted the economic impacts of seaweed production, providing context for environmental and social assessments; the completed ecosystem services assessment will inform socio-economic impacts and support the strategic development plan; 9) SeaMark established a multi-actor training platform with online resources, project videos, and regular webinars and workshops. Partners contributed to the Blue Biotechpreneurs’ MOOC and provided continuous updates to training materials, supporting knowledge dissemination and skills development in the blue sector; 10) The BlueBioMatch platform was established by Submariner where producers and off-takers can connect; and finally, 11) Policy and investor recommendations have been developed on ecosystem service valuation, and an assessment of the EU regulatory landscape identified key hurdles and raised awareness of policy barriers. Partners are also engaged in standardisation work, for example on the carbon footprint of seaweed cultivation and chemical composition analysis.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The SeaMark partners have demonstrated highly promising processing results with the potential to kickstart cultivated seaweed biorefinery and green extraction. Biorefinery using a cascading approach remains largely uncharted territory in terms of processing methods and business models. Through pilot and demonstration tests of processes and market applications, SeaMark partners are providing more reliable knowledge regarding large-scale production potential in food, feed, nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, and medical devices. Key needs remain expanding and diversifying markets for seaweed-based products and developing uniform standards for production methods. Regulatory and administrative procedures must also be simplified. Standardisation and regulatory issues are addressed by commercial partners in relation to their products, for example regarding maximum arsenic levels in seafood. The scale-up of open-ocean cultivation requires high-yielding lines obtained through selective breeding. Correctly designed and installed cultivation units, combined with automated harvesting, can lower operational and capital expenditures and enable price-competitive seaweed-based products on the market.

Group photo of the SeaMark consortium in Aarhus, May 2023