GENIALG Project Results Help to Boost the European Seaweed Sector

Results from this innovative European seaweed research project have laid the foundations to strengthen the seaweed cultivation and biorefining industry in Europe, promoting sustainable seaweed farming for future generations.

GENIALG Research Wins Best Researcher Poster at Lipids in the Oceans 2021

GENIALG researcher Ana Moreira from University of Aveiro won Best Researcher Poster for her research entitled 'Comparison of lipidomic signatures in commercial Ulva spp. of different origin at Lipids in the Oceans Conference 2021 held online from the 5-7 July 2021.

Final GENIALG E-Newsletter out now

The final GENIALG e-newsletter is out now.

Launch of Free E-Learning Course on Sustainable Seaweed Farming Practices

GENIALG is delighted to launch its free online e-learning course: ‘Sustainable Seaweed Farming Practices’.

Meet the GENIALG Scientists: Suzannah-Lynn (Suzi) Billing

‘Meet the GENIALG Scientists and their Results’ is a series of articles profiling researchers and their results from GENIALG. The series will be showcased on the GENIALG website and social media channels. Its aim is to aid and encourage researchers to engage locally with the public across the six partner countries of Norway, France, Ireland, Portugal, the Netherlands and United Kingdom.

Meet the GENIALG Scientists: José M. Fariñas-Franco

‘Meet the GENIALG Scientists and their Results’ is a series of articles profiling researchers and their results from GENIALG. The series will be showcased on the GENIALG website and social media channels. Its aim is to aid and encourage researchers to engage locally with the public across the six partner countries of Norway, France, Ireland, Portugal, the Netherlands and United Kingdom.

Meet the GENIALG Scientists: Frank Neumann

‘Meet the GENIALG Scientists and their Results’ is a series of articles profiling researchers and their results from GENIALG. The series will be showcased on the GENIALG website and social media channels. Its aim is to aid and encourage researchers to engage locally with the public across the six partner countries of Norway, France, Ireland, Portugal, the Netherlands and United Kingdom.

A new crop in the sea: Seaweed cultivation in Belgian waters

A multidisciplinary team from Ghent University, Belgium, along with industrial partners is investigating the possibility of offshore cultivation within windfarms and aims to tackle bottlenecks to advance land-based cultivation of high-value seaweeds.

Public consultation on the EU Algae Initiative now open

The EU Algae Initiative aims to increase sustainable production, to ensure safe consumption and to boost the innovative use of algae and algae-based products in the European Union. This survey seeks both your general opinion on the algae sector and provides an opportunity to answer more specific questions related to unlocking algae potential in Europe.

Kelp parachutes: Green gravel reforestation projects showing promise

As kelp forests worldwide show dramatic signs of decline in density, scientists are racing to find ways to cost-effectively reforest the coastlines and re-establish these crucial ecosystems. One promising strategy is the green gravel approach, wherein kelp seedlings are grown on gravel and then scattered on the ocean floor, where they’d hopefully anchor and flourish.

INEGI empowers seaweed farming industry with solutions to increase efficiency

Four years after its start, GENIALG is nearing completion, and one of its promising results is the systems that were developed from the collaboration between partners, INEGI and ALGAplus in Portugal

Assessing the habitat benefits of kelp aquaculture in New Zealand and Maine

How kelp farms can provide habitat for fish and marine invertebrates, whether there are any negative impacts on fish and marine invertebrates during maintenance and harvesting cycles, and how the benefits of restorative aquaculture can be optimised for both the aquaculture industry and nature, are among the key questions to be answered in a new study.

Cattle fed with seaweed reduces their greenhouse gas emissions by 82%

According to new findings from researchers at the University of California, Davis, a bit of seaweed in cattle feed could reduce methane emissions from beef cattle as much as 82%. The results could pave the way for the sustainable production of livestock throughout the world.

GENIALG E-Newsletter Issue 4 – OUT NOW!

Issue 4 of the GENIALG e-newsletter has now been published, hear all the latest from partners including how GENIALG researchers are part of the #SeaweedRevolution with the launch of the Safe Seaweed Coalition.

Encouraging coastal communities to engage with seaweed aquaculture

A new guide is encouraging coastal communities to consider the the potential impacts - both positive and negative - of seaweed aquaculture sites in their local areas.

Official Launch of the Safe Seaweed Coalition: Powering the Restorative Revolution of Seaweed

Sustainability, safe cultivation and supply chains to unlock SDGs Wednesday 17 March | 13:00 - 14:30 GMT

GENIALG partners NUI Galway launch seaweed genetic analysis company Pristine Coasts

Pristine Coasts Ltd provides state-of-the-art genetic analysis of seaweed biomass and products

Towards a strong and sustainable EU algae sector – conclusions from the public consultation

In December 2020, the European Commission kicked off an online consultation period on its roadmap entitled: Blue bioeconomy – towards a strong and sustainable EU algae sector. Based on the results of the consultation and further work in 2021, the Commission will identify necessary actions, new opportunities and sector needs to be considered within the upcoming EU Algae Initiative.

Could seaweed help combat Covid-19?

According to researchers from ICAR-CIFT in India, sulphated polysaccharides extracted from seaweeds, have many pharmacological applications and could be utilised to help fight the Covid-19 virus.

EU’s Aquaculture Advisory Council has published its first general recommendation on seaweed farming and its high potential in Europe

How and why seaweed aquaculture should be promoted in Europe is the subject of the new recommendation

European Commission seeks views on sustainable algae production, consumption and innovative uses

The European Commission has published an online consultation on its roadmap: Blue economy – towards a strong and sustainable EU algae sector

GENIALG Final Conference, Seaweed for the Future: Scaling-up the European sector

The conference which focused on boosting and scaling-up the seaweed industry in Europe was held virtually on 30 November 2020

Seaweed: sustainable crop of the future?

The Financial Times have produced a short video report on the enormous potential seaweed farming has in Norway, visiting two GENIALG partners Seaweed Solutions & SINTEF

BDC participates at IATiP’s brokerage event ‘Bringing Innovation to Irish Aquaculture’

GENIALG partner Joe Bennett from the Biorenewables Development Centre (BDC) recently presented seaweed valorisation opportunities

GENIALG E-Newsletter Issue 3 Out Now

Issue 3 of the GENIALG e-newsletter has now been published.

Seaweed farming set to benefit from the Bezos Earth Fund

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has received $100 million for Nature-based Climate Solutions from the Bezos Earth Fund, giving seaweed aquaculture and mangrove preservation a huge boost!

Scoping a Seaweed Biorefinery Concept for Ireland

A Report for Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) prepared by CyberColloids to scope the potential for a seaweed biorefinery based on European kelp species that are being successfully cultivated in Ireland

A deep dive into Zero Hunger: the seaweed revolution

If just two per cent of the ocean were to be sustainably farmed, we could provide enough protein to feed a world population of 12 billion people, according to Vincent Doumeizel, a senior advisor on ocean-based solutions at the UN Global Compact, and an evangelist for seaweed. Here we take a look at the huge potential role of seaweed in mitigating climate change, cutting marine pollution, and achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goal of Zero Hunger.

Seaweed extract found to have promising effects in brain cancer treatment

A compound found in brown seaweeds could help to treat one of the most common and aggressive forms of malignant brain tumour.

EABA Technical Webinar on Atlantic Sargassum Belt

4 November, Online

SW-Grow Seaweed Industry Survey for Seaweed Farmers, Harvesters and Producers

SW-Grow, an EU funded seaweed research project aims to identify common issues and trial solutions within the seaweed industry in the Northern Periphery and Arctic region.

FREE REGISTRATION NOW OPEN – GENIALG Final Conference Online – 30 November 2020

On 30 November 2020, GENIALG will host an international, one-day, open-door, final conference. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, this conference has been adapted to an online event with FREE registration!

The Seaweed Manifesto: Towards implementation

Following on from the launch of the Seaweed Manifesto in June 2020, this meeting showcased the many ways the ambitions and initiatives of the Seaweed Manifesto are being driven forward across the world.

GENIALG partners identify natural process to extract chlorophyll from wild and farmed seaweeds

GENIALG partners Olmix Group, ALGAplus and University of Aveiro have recently identified a natural process that successfully extracts chlorophyll from Ulva spp. seaweeds from two different European biomasses.

Australian Seaweed Industry Blueprint – A Blueprint for Growth 

The Australian Seaweed Institute has published its Australian Seaweed Industry Blueprint

The Norwegian Seaweed Biorefinery Platform – Newsletter Out Now

The Platform produces a monthly newsletter to provide an update on the ongoing activities and news within the project, as well as news from their different seaweed stakeholders.

*SAVE THE DATE* GENIALG Final Conference Online – 30 November 2020

On 30 November 2020, GENIALG will host an international, one-day, open-door, final conference. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, this conference has been adapted to an online event with FREE registration!

A future for seaweed farming in Europe

Seaweeds utilise energy from sunlight, taking up nutrients and carbon dioxide from the seawater. Seaweed has great potential for the future; a crop that could help fight climate change by offsetting carbon emissions while also providing an important food source with numerous health benefits for both humans and animals. In this article we hear how pioneering seaweed companies including GENIALG partners, SINTEF and ALGAplus are paving the way for the future of seaweed farming in Europe.

Ice age kelp found by scientists off coast of Scotland, Ireland and France

Scientists have discovered kelp off the coast of Scotland, Ireland and France that has survived since the last ice age around 16,000 years ago!

EABA Flash Webinar on EU Programmes & Opportunities

A series of presentations that demonstrate the current landscape of algae-related projects in the EU framework and indicate their possible contributions to antivirals in modern times.

EAS Webinar – Sustainable seaweed production in Europe: economic and environmental insights from the GENIALG project

An EAStalk with GENIALG partner Sander van den Burg, Wageningen Economic Research (WUR)

Seaweed Day 2020 celebrated with the launch of the Seaweed Manifesto

This year on Seaweed Day, 4 June 2020, the Seaweed Manifesto was officially launched.

PhD and Post Doc Positions with the Norwegian Seaweed Biorefinery Platform

Four postgraduate positions have been announced in connection with the Norwegian Seaweed Biorefinery Platform (SBP-N). 

*Postponed* GENIALG & IDEALG Joint Final Conference

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the GENIALG & IDEALG Joint Final Conference has been postponed, new dates will be announced soon!

*SAVE THE DATE* GENIALG & IDEALG Joint Final Conference

24-27 August 2020 at IREMER Centre, Brest, France

EABA Workshop on Seaweed Valorisation: From Production to Applications

NEW DATE: 21-22 April 2020 in Nantes, France

GENIALG E-Newsletter Issue 2 Out Now

Issue 2 of the GENIALG e-newsletter has now been published.

Meet the ‘Star Ingredient’ Changing Fortunes in Alaska’s Waters: Seaweed

Growing awareness of the climate crisis and a shift to plant-based diets, has turned seaweed farming into a successful industry in Alaska.

‘All we need is sun and sea’: England’s First Commercial Seaweed Farm

A former fisherman, deep-sea diver and lifeboat man, and his marine scientist partner, are in the process of establishing England’s first commercial-scale seaweed farm.

Research Evidence Prompts Rethink on Global Seaweed Policy

United Nations delegates attending the FAO Sub-Committee on Aquaculture in Trondheim have called for more work to be done to understand the global seaweed industry, after hearing from Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) scientist Professor Elizabeth Cottier-Cook and five other international experts.