Seaweed Market Scan - May 18th 2022

Wageningen University and Research (WUR), Netherlands has launched Wageningen Aquaculture Research and Education (W-ARE) – in a bid to ramp up its capacity for research and education in aquaculture.

Posted on May 18, 2022 by Md Sharif

  • Alternative proteins are estimated to make up 33% of global protein consumption by 2054, and algae are predicted to account for 18% of the alternative proteins market by the same year.
  • UK's first dedicated Seaweed Academy launched at Oban.
  • The Scottish government has pledged to join the ‘the Blue Carbon International Policy Challenge’, which will provide seed funding for projects in sectors including seaweed aquaculture.
  • Britain launches offshore seaweed farm that’s a boon in the climate change battle.
  • In the USA, the BLUE GLOBE Act is one step closer to becoming law, which is great news for Alaska’s fisheries and coastal communities.
  • Australia's next crop of commercially farmed seaweed could be coming out of Gippsland after preliminary study results showed promise. Gippsland has over 600 kilometers of beautiful pristine coast and also a really strong agricultural history and network.
  • The idea that seaweed can help reduce carbon emissions should not be rejected altogether, but it comes with several shortcomings.
  • Studies show that kelp can be used in the treatment of hair loss.

Cascadia Seaweed receives grant funding of $500,000 from AAFC to establish a scientific process to identify beneficial compounds in seaweeds for cattle feed.

  • Springtide Seaweed is due to receive $649,651 to develop innovative nori and dulse seaweed cultivation systems, enabling these high-value crops to be farmed in the US and globally.
  • Seaweed snack start-up based out of Grimsby, UK secured a big retail deal in the Middle East to stock its seaweed products in one of the region’s largest supermarket chains Lulu Group.
  • Zeewaar, the first Dutch organically certified seaweed farm, has been bought by The Seaweed Company. 
  • Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc. is collaborating with Atlantic Sea Farms, a regenerative kelp aquaculture company based in Maine on its Cranberry Kelp Cubes, which are composed of Kelp puree, cranberry puree, and cranberry seeds.
  • Ben & Jerry’s is cutting the carbon footprint of your ice cream.
  • Fonterra, a New Zealand dairy cooperative that partners with Australian company Sea Forest, is looking at the potential Asparagopsis seaweed has in reducing methane in a grass-fed farming system.

New Products: LOLIWARE, An USA company announced that they have developed the first seaweed pellet created from natural biomaterials to replace plastic at scale. 

  • UC San Diego Scientists launching the world’s first biodegradable shoes through the company Blueview.
  • IFF’s Nourish division has rolled out a “nutrient-dense hydrocolloid” from red seaweed to stabilize plant-based milk. Launched in the US, SeaFlour is positioned as a non-allergenic “seaweed flour” or “natural seaweed” with high-suspension abilities.

Kelp restoration guidebook launched this month shares lessons learned from projects in Tasmania and around the world. 

Sea-farmed supercrop: how seaweed could transform the way we live

Following narratives from previous scans continue to make a buzz in social media:

  • Seaweed farming to reduce carbon emissions.
  • The food production of the future is in the sea.
  • Seaweed to reduce methane emission in cows/seaweed as cattle supplement.
  • Seaweed uses in fashion/clothing.
  • Algae is a source of Omega-3s, DHA, EPA, Iodine, etc.
  • Seaweed uses in alcohol.
  • Algae uses in medicines including cancer, and diabetes.
  • Seaweed is a source of a range of vitamins and minerals, including iodine, calcium, and iron.
  • Notpla, alternate plastic from seaweed.
  • Seaweed in Food, snacks, etc.

Solera Advisors

Enabling decisions through transparency.

Chicago | Toronto | London | Kiel

© 2018-2023 Solera Advisors. All Rights Reserved.