Knowledge Outputs

Output Description:

This knowledge output concerns a broad range of the latest research knowledge gathered from the EU funded GENIALG project that is presented in the form of an E-Learning Course: Sustainable Seaweed Farming Practices. This educational course is addressing the environmental benefits and risks of seaweed farming, suggesting good practices to ensure a sustainable growth of the seaweed farming industry. The course will educate and raise awareness of the key sustainable practices covering core topics such as: Cultivation and Monitoring Protocols; Ecosystem Services of Seaweed Cultivation; Advanced Methods for Breeding Seaweeds; and Seaweeds and Society. This course is aimed at people with a professional or personal interest in seaweed farming. Key target audiences for the course include students, current practitioners within the seaweed industry and people interested in entering the seaweed industry. The course is also relevant to policy makers tasked with planning and implementing future legislation on control and impact assessments for seaweed farms.

End Users & Applications:

• The academic community (third level teacher and students) could use the material both for teaching key principles of sustainable seaweed farming practices as well as self-directed learning for students
• Entrepreneurs who are thinking of getting into the seaweed business would be interested in learning about the recommended best practices for sustainability or those who want to improve/expand etc.
• Seaweed farmers who would endeavour to improve and/or expand their farming activities could learn how to do so using the best practice sustainable recommendations
• Seaweed breeders could apply the guidelines for advanced methods for breeding seaweeds
• Regulators could use the material to inform policy and decision making

Potential Impacts:

• Improved education on sustainable seaweed farming could have impacts in many different areas, with academics transferring the knowledge to science, policy, industry and the general public
• If more entrepreneurs set up seaweed businesses that could lead to higher seaweed production overall, but also more diversified, higher quality seaweed-based products
• Improved seaweed farming could impact on many different levels: increased production, more sustainable/environmental-friendly production, more cost-efficient production, higher quality products etc.
• Potential impact of breeders applying the knowledge could be increased breeding success leading to higher production overall
• Regulators could provide the industry with these stipulations in the granting of permits/they could provide existing permit holders with incentives to meet these best practices for sustainable seaweed farming

Knowledge Owner:

Please contact GENIALG partner CIIMAR:
Rosa Melo rmelo@ciimar.up.pt
Isabel Azevedo iazevedo@ciimar.up.pt
Isabel Sousa Pinto isabel.sousa.pinto@gmail.com

Go to: GENIALG E-Learning Course: Sustainable Seaweed Farming Practices

Output Description:

A new finding of extensive variation in growth rates and metabolic composition between Ulva strains confirms the economic potential of strain selection efforts in streamlining seaweed aquaculture production. This database compiling growth rates and compositions of >120 strains represent six species collected from Ireland, the Netherlands and France. Strain selection for genetic variants of Ulva species for cultivation will lead to significant increases in biomass production as well as the possibility for seaweed growers to grow species tailored for specific markets, based on their nutritional composition, e.g. starch/sucrose/protein content and their morphological characteristics, e.g. thickness.

End Users & Applications:

• Seaweed growers could potentially grow species tailored for specific markets, based on their nutritional composition, e.g. starch/sucrose/protein content and their morphological characteristics, e.g. thickness. This database will lead to growers selecting more robust and nutritionally valuable seaweed strains.
• Other future applications include Ulva spp. trait selection for use in nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, animal nutraceuticals, cosmetics, food, bioplastics to name a few.
• The results pave the way towards the domestication and breeding of elite strains of Ulva for aquaculture, similar to what has been done for plant crops in agriculture. Seaweed breeders could apply strain selection for increases in biomass production
• Scientists could use the results to develop and improve seaweed aquaculture techniques.

Potential Impacts:

• Increased seaweed biomass productivity leading to better economic circumstances for seaweed farmers and increased food security worldwide. Less fluctuation in seaweed production leading to a more stable market and being able to meet the steadily increasing demand etc.
• Increased supply to meet demand of food and biotech industries – increased food security worldwide.
  Less fluctuation in seaweed production leading to a more stable market and being able to meet the steadily increasing demand etc.

Knowledge Owner:

Please contact GENIALG partner NUIG:
Ronan Sulpice ronan.sulpice@nuigalway.ie

Go to GENIALG spin-off company: Pristine Coasts Ltd

Output Description:

A high throughput phenotyping platform for cheap and reliable monitoring of the growth of hundreds of Ulva strains. The platform provides robust and reliable data to compare the growth and metabolic characteristics among Ulva strains, facilitating the investigation of the influence of a range of genetic and environmental factors. This platform is likely to assist in the identification of strains that could lead to higher biomass yield in seaweed farming systems, not just for Ulva but potentially for others too. This result will be of particular interest for seaweed researchers and farmers, by facilitating the development of a seaweed breeding programme.

End Users & Applications:

• Scientists could facilitate the development of a seaweed breeding programme. Future applications include providing robust and reliable data to compare the growth and metabolic characteristics among other seaweed species strains, facilitating the investigation of the influence of a range of genetic and environmental factors. Another potential application by scientists could be using the platform to precisely investigate Ulva response to various environmental conditions
• These studies pave the way towards the domestication and breeding of elite strains of Ulva for aquaculture, similar to what has been done for plant crops in agriculture. Seaweed breeders could apply strain selection for increases in biomass production as well as breed species tailored for specific markets, based on their nutritional composition, e.g. starch/sucrose/protein content and their morphological characteristics, e.g. thickness.
• Seaweed farmers who have the interest and capacity to help further develop the platform, with the eventual goal of providing a commercial supply to other end users such as industry including food, animal feed, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics
• Seaweed growers could apply the KO to grow species tailored for specific markets, based on their nutritional composition, e.g. starch/sucrose/protein content and their morphological characteristics, e.g. thickness. This platform could lead to growers selecting more robust and nutritionally valuable seaweed strains.

Potential Impacts:

• The platform is likely to assist in the identification of strains that could lead to higher biomass yield and other favourable traits for seaweed farming systems, not just for Ulva but potentially for others too. The platform is available to academics for collaborations/gather data for future funding.
• To offer the services of the platform to industry/seaweed breeders to increase seaweed biomass productivity leading to better economic circumstances for seaweed farmers.
• Increased supply to meet demand of food and biotech industries. Increased food security worldwide. Less fluctuation in seaweed production leading to a more stable market and being able to meet the steadily increasing demand etc.

Knowledge Owner:

Please contact GENIALG partner NUIG:
Ronan Sulpice ronan.sulpice@nuigalway.ie

Go to GENIALG spin-off company: Pristine Coasts Ltd

Output Description:

This KO concerns a novel, fast and cheap PCR based method for the identification of Ulva seaweed (sea lettuce). There are about 100 species of Ulva currently, laminar and tubular, listed on AlgaeBase and nearly 600 names have been used, as this was one of the earliest genera of algae to be described (by Carl Linnaeus). However, during an extensive sampling of laminar Ulva (>100 individuals) performed in Portugal, France, the Netherlands, Ireland and Scotland, only six species could be identified. Thus, considering this low number of species, we developed a novel identification method which is based on changes in DNA sequence between Ulva species at their sites of restriction enzymes. A restriction enzyme is a DNA-cutting enzyme that recognizes specific sites in DNA. Simply, when using restriction enzymes to cut Ulva DNA, fragments number and sizes will vary between species, thus allowing the identification of Ulva species by just visually looking at a gel, without the requirement for sequencing. Up to now, it was required to sequence DNA fragments to know the identification of Ulva species. This new method is much faster and cheaper and could be used for large screens, after sequencing a subset of the individuals to ensure species which are not covered by the method are present within the population.

End Users & Applications:

• Seaweed researchers will be able to use the novel method to quickly and cheaply characterise the specific type of unknown wild seaweed they will work with (they mostly work with wild seaweed, since there are hardly any collections available). Scientists can use it to clean their samples harvested in the wild if they want to focus on one Ulva species for their research. Seaweed researchers could potentially also expand its use to more types of Ulva and so eventually identify all types of Ulva, as well as potentially apply it to other types of seaweed also. Note however that the technique cannot be expanded too much, since that would be practically unfeasible (would be a mess to analyse the gels!)
• Seaweed breeders could apply the novel PCR based identification of Ulva seaweed species to quickly and cheaply characterise the specific type of unknown wild seaweed they have at hand to decide whether they will work with it. Note however that “Ulva breeders” do not really exist – it is mostly about collecting some samples in the wild and bulk them. So many of the Ulva farmed are actually not properly characterised – breeders often do not know the species they work with
• Seaweed farmers will not be able to work directly with the PCR method, but they could send samples to a lab for fast and cheap analysis
• Validation/certification/food safety bodies could apply the methodology to check whether the seaweed product complies with the information given and validate claims

Potential Impacts:

• Seaweed researchers applying the novel method to quickly and cheaply characterise the specific type of seaweed they work with will be able to provide breeders and growers with specific species of Ulva, eventually contributing to food security.
• Seaweed breeders applying the novel method will be able to make sure that their farm is not contaminated with alien Ulva species, i.e. they will be able to regularly monitor the Ulva species present within their farm.
• There is potential for the development of identification kits that seaweed farmers could use for analysis themselves instead of having to send to a lab for analysis to make sure that their farm is not contaminated with alien Ulva species, i.e. they will be able to regularly monitor the Ulva species present within their farm.
• Validation/food safety bodies applying the methodology to check whether the seaweed product complies with the information given will contribute to improved food product safety, quality and traceability.

Knowledge Owner:

Please contact GENIALG partner NUIG:
Antoine Fort antoine.fort@nuigalway.ie
Ronan Sulpice ronan.sulpice@nuigalway.ie

Go to GENIALG spin-off company: Pristine Coasts Ltd

Output Description:

This KO highlights the challenges to seaweed production and use in Europe and formulates future directions for upscaling the European seaweed sector. It is argued that from a People, Planet, Profit perspective, there is no need to focus on producing large volumes of seaweed per se in Europe. We need to focus on nature-inclusive production systems, producing the right amount of the right seaweeds, based on the carrying capacity of the European seas. The seaweed sector must avoid developing along the “old” economy’s way of cost leadership but develop along the way of the “new” circular economy. Seaweeds should not be seen as a new product “added” to the market but become an integral part of the European food system, being used for human consumption, feed and improving production processes.

End Users & Applications:

• Policy makers could take up the information to make better informed decisions and policies/laws on the future of the European seaweed sector, making it more environmentally friendly while still profitable
• Aquaculture licensing decision-makers could take up this information to make better informed decisions about granting licensing to seaweed farmers
• The KO could inspire scientists to address the knowledge gaps in seaweed production, e.g. in terms of environmental impact of seaweed culture

Potential Impacts:

• Development of a sustainable, environmental friendly, innovative and profitable European seaweed sector that fits into the existing global value chains and can compete on the global market
• Contribute to a bigger and more diversified offer and consumption of alternative plant-based proteins in order to feed the growing world population in more sustainable ways
• Higher food intake of seaweed will contribute to a healthier world population considering seaweed is healthy, nutritious, natural, safe, fresh, a good source of protein and iodine, and low in calories
• Addressing the knowledge gaps will give better insight into environmental effects of seaweed farming which could then be effectively addressed if negative.

Knowledge Owner:

Please contact GENIALG partner WUR:
Sander van den Burg sander.vandenburg@wur.nl

Go to: EU Algae Initiative

Go to: Seaweed for Europe

Output Description:

Seaweed cultivation is a fairly recent and growing industry in Europe. Previous studies suggest that apart from it generating valuable biomass and contributing to economic activity, growing seaweed and its associated infrastructure could also provide additional valuable socio-environmental benefits such as habitat provision, nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, etc. However, little research has been carried out so far on this additional aspect. This KO concerns a first comprehensive overview of all socio-environmental benefits identified from seaweed farming in Europe, together with their material benefits. Knowledge was gathered through a literature review and expert survey and the ecosystem services are expressed in terms of Nature’s Contributions to People (NCP), which is defined as all the positive contributions or benefits, and occasionally negative contributions, losses or detriments, that people obtain from nature. The final results will additionally include a stakeholder map to guide further steps on the assessment of the positive contributions and benefits of seaweed farming to people and their communities. The KO provides first-time evidence that these additional socio-environmental benefits would support further expansion of commercial seaweed cultivation in the future.

End Users & Applications:

• Seaweed farmers will be able to use the identified seaweed farming NCPs as proof that they are providing added benefits, which will support with its acceptance by society (social licensing) and also with obtaining new/additional seaweed farm site licences
• Regulators and policy makers could apply the knowledge on these seaweed farming NCPs to optimise regulations around seaweed farming
• Seaweed researchers could apply this knowledge (a more comprehensive approach embodying seaweed farming NCPs) as a valid starting point for further research of the benefits obtained from seaweed farming
• Knowledge of these seaweed farming NCPs amongst the general public but in particular among coastal communities directly impacted by seaweed farms may contribute to a better understanding of the positive and negative impacts contributing to Social licensing.

Potential Impacts:

• Seaweed farmers can use the KO to identify a route to add value to the seaweed production, that could potentially contribute to the expansion of the seaweed sector in Europe.
• If regulators and policymakers optimise regulations around seaweed farming based on the KO, it could support further expansion of the seaweed sector in Europe, through better regulations, licensing and funding.
• A potential impact of researchers applying the knowledge is more comprehensive approaches to ecosystem service assessments of socio-environmental benefits from other industries/enterprise areas in different ecosystems.
• More positive perception by the general public of seaweed farming and its impacts, having positive implications for Social Licensing aspects in Europe.

Knowledge Owner:

Please contact GENIALG partner CIIMAR:
Isabel Sousa-Pinto ispinto@ciimar.up.pt
Itziar Burgues Martínez iburgues@ciimar.up.pt

Go to: EU Algae Initiative

Go to: Seaweed for Europe

Output Description:

Seaweed cultivation is an industry with the potential to contribute to economic activity through generating valuable biomass, as well as the provisioning of benefits from its Nature’s Contributions to People (NCP). Many of these NCPs produce non-material benefits, which are intangible and subjective since there is no obvious market for those benefits (in terms of price). This KO outlines, for the first time, the non-material benefits of seaweed farming activities in Europe, by estimations of the monetary and non-monetary values. Estimations on the value and supply of these services are the result from participative and deliberative processes at stakeholder workshops carried out in five different locations within Europe. This KO will result in estimation of the non-material benefits from seaweed farming in Europe in monetary and non-monetary terms.

End Users & Applications:

• European seaweed farmers will be able to use the value estimations of non-material benefits of seaweed farming in Europe as proof that they are providing added value to their local community and area. This could for example be used when applying for permits, licensing, government subsidies
• Regulators and policy makers could use the knowledge of these value estimations of non-material benefits of seaweed farming in Europe to optimise regulations around seaweed farming in Europe overall.
• Researchers of ecosystem services would benefit from the development of new methods and estimations on evaluating non-material benefits of seaweed farming in Europe, that can be included in further research
• Better knowledge of the value of non-material benefits of seaweed farming in Europe among the general public but in particular among coastal communities that are directly impacted by seaweed farms may change their potentially initial negative perceptions of seaweed farming into more understanding/positive attitudes.

Potential Impacts:

• If these value estimations of non-material benefits of seaweed farming in Europe influence regulations then it might mean a sustainable growth of the sector (e.g. more permits will be granted or easier to obtain, as well as increased potential for government subsidies/ecosystem services payments, encouraging and incentivising more eco-friendly farming)
• Optimisation of seaweed farming regulations could lead to the seaweed farming sector to grow in Europe, while addressing social acceptability, providing more employment opportunities for people in Europe’s periphery and ensuring environmental sustainability.
• If researchers in ecosystem services’ research take all benefits into consideration i.e. apply these value estimations of non-material benefits of seaweed farming in Europe, then these non-material benefits of seaweed farming are more likely to be valued and accepted by policy, industry and society and thus influence these sectors in the future
• Changes in the general public’s perceptions of seaweed farming may increase its social acceptability and increase use of seaweed products by society.

Knowledge Owner:

Please contact GENIALG partner CIIMAR:
Isabel Sousa-Pinto ispinto@ciimar.up.pt
Itziar Burgues Martínez iburgues@ciimar.up.pt

Go to: EU Algae Initiative

Go to: Seaweed for Europe

Output Description:

Seaweed cultivation is an industry with the potential to contribute to economic activity through generating valuable biomass, as well as the provisioning of ecosystem services. This knowledge output outlines, for the first time, the value estimations of the material benefits from all seaweed farming activities (beyond biomass production), both in monetary and non-monetary terms. To be able to estimate the overall value of seaweed farming in Europe, different methodologies have been applied to take various bio-physical data into account, which were taken from several seaweed farming cultivation sites across Europe. The output also includes a monetary estimation of the non-material benefit values, by utilizing deliberative and participative approaches. To be able to calculate an integrated and holistic value of the benefits from seaweed farming activities in Europe, the value is described as a Value Function. This function adds up all the monetary estimations from material and non-material benefits in a unique value by weighting each component based on deliberative processes to obtain a Total Aggregated Value.

End Users & Applications:

• European seaweed farmers will be able to use the value estimations of material benefits of seaweed farming in Europe as proof of the added value from seaweed farming to the environment, society and economy.
• Regulators and policy/decision makers could apply this knowledge output to optimise regulations around seaweed farming in Europe overall, accounting for that added value to the environment from seaweed farming has not been considered hitherto.
• Monetary estimations of material and non-material benefits are relevant data for Environmental economics researchers that can utilize them for further studies on seaweed farming activities.
• Monetary estimations is an easy to understand measurement for the general public and other stakeholders that might contribute to change their potentially initial negative perceptions of seaweed farming into more understanding/positive attitudes

Potential Impacts:

• If European seaweed farmers use the value estimations of seaweed farming in Europe as proof of the added value from seaweed farming to the environment, society and economy, this might permit the development of the industry in Europe further.
• If these value estimations of material benefits of seaweed farming in Europe influence regulations then it might mean expansion of the sector and so more profitability for farmers and more employment opportunities for people, mostly in Europe’s margins.
• If researchers build upon the current data and knowledge and undertake further studies to gain more research knowledge on seaweed overall, this will increase the level of understanding of seaweed research in general.
• Changes in the general public’s perceptions of seaweed farming may increase its social acceptability and increase use of seaweed products by society.

Knowledge Owner:

Please contact GENIALG partner CIIMAR:
Isabel Sousa-Pinto ispinto@ciimar.up.pt
Itziar Burgues Martínez iburgues@ciimar.up.pt

Go to: EU Algae Initiative

Go to: Seaweed for Europe

Output Description:

Seaweed cultivation is an industry which contributes to economic activity through generating valuable biomass, but also has the potential to deliver benefits from its Nature’s Contributions to People (NCPs, socio-economic benefits such as water quality regulation, carbon storage capacity and providing recreational opportunities). However, the valuation of the socio-environmental benefits that people obtain from seaweed farming activities overall, from both the economic side as well as in terms of NCPs, has so far not been established. This knowledge output establishes for the first-time appropriate methods and indicators to carry out value estimations of the material benefits from seaweed farming activities overall. Quantification of Nature’s Contributions to People in monetary and non-monetary terms will provide a more holistic understanding of the value of the benefits from seaweed farming which is crucial for the sustainable development of this industry in Europe. [Non-monetary benefits may include seaweed farming providing regulation of water quality from bioremediation processes, water quality itself has a non-monetary value for coastal communities’ wellbeing]. The methods [to estimate material benefits from seaweed farming activities] are based on the categorisation of the seaweed farming system by its biophysical components and fundamental natural processes. This categorisation helps to demonstrate the functionality of the ecosystem, which is where the benefits from nature arise. Based on those benefits identified, different methods and indicators are proposed to measure the value of each of these benefits.

End Users & Applications:

• European seaweed farmers will be able to apply the set of methods and indicators for seaweed farming benefits estimation to their production sites with data and contribute for a better estimation of added value from seaweed farming.
• Regulators and policy/decision makers could apply this knowledge to calculate baseline figures that can be used in decision making on new or adaptation of existing regulations around seaweed farming, e.g. in relation to allocation of seaweed/aquaculture sites and in overall marine spatial planning
• Researchers in the field of ecosystem services can apply this knowledge in more fields, not only seaweed, but also aquaculture in general or perhaps even broader? More research results might contribute to a more positive perception of seaweed farming, and other aquaculture farming practices.

Potential Impacts:

• The potential impact of farmers applying the new set of methods and indicators will be their contribution to the overall compiled data at sector level that will make it possible to accurately estimate the material socio-environmental benefits from seaweed farming activities in Europe.
• Potential impact of new or improved regulations around seaweed farming might incentivise more growth of the sector (e.g. more permits granted or easier to obtain, licensing, subsides).
• More research results might contribute to creating a knowledge base that could help to create a more positive perception of seaweed farming (and perhaps other aquaculture farming practices) at societal level.

Knowledge Owner:

Please contact GENIALG partner CIIMAR:
Isabel Sousa-Pinto ispinto@ciimar.up.pt
Itziar Burgues Martínez iburgues@ciimar.up.pt

Go to: EU Algae Initiative

Go to: Seaweed for Europe

Output Description:

This KO concerns the finding that Ulva species do not hybridise (crossbreed) between each other. It is known that at a given geographical location, several Ulva species can be found, e.g. inside green tides. We have now showed that these species are not crossing with each other (no outbreed), meaning that strong genetic barriers exist. This is a surprising fact as GENIALG partner NUIG previously showed that in terms of morphology, metabolism and growth, Ulva species are quite similar. Thus, some specific genes might be responsible. It will be important to identify them as their manipulation might allow the creation of hybrids, thus potentially pave the way for the obtention of superior hybrid strains for aquaculture.

End Users & Applications:

• Seaweed research laboratories with a focus on developing and improving seaweed aquaculture techniques know now that cross breeding of Ulva is not possible in a natural way, and if they would like to create superior cross-breeds, they know now they would need to genetically manipulate.
• Seaweed breeders would gain knowledge, knowing now that cross breeding of Ulva is not possible in a natural way, and if they would like to create superior crossbreeds, they know now they would need to genetically manipulate.
• Seaweed farmers will be able to cultivate non-interbreeding species together without risk of cross hybridisation

Potential Impacts:

• Identification of the specific genes responsible for the lack of hybridicity would allow manipulation to create hybrids and potentially superior hybrid strains for aquaculture
• Seaweed breeders knowing that cross breeding of Ulva is only possible through genetic manipulation will affect seaweed breeding programmes, as they will need to focus within a given species if they wish to create hybrids of superior quality
• Seaweed farmers knowing about this output could potentially cultivate different non-interbreeding species together without risk for cross hybridisation, potentially leading to increased production and income via diversification of their production.

Knowledge Owners:

Please contact GENIALG partner NUIG:
Antoine Fort antoine.fort@nuigalway.ie
Ronan Sulpice ronan.sulpice@nuigalway.ie

Go to GENIALG spin-off company: Pristine Coasts Ltd

Output Description:

This KO concerns the establishment of a new biobank (type of repository that stores biological samples) of local Saccharina latissima (brown alga also known as sugar kelp) strains, together with their biometric data, which have been collected in Portugal and Spain, which is at the southern distribution limit of S. latissima. Establishment of biobanks of local seaweed species are useful for development of sustainable aquaculture methods (needed to avoid the risk of overexploitation of wild stocks of seaweed) with improved strains, that are better adapted to local conditions.
The S. latissima strains were collected from populations off northern Portugal and Galicia (northern Spain) for the establishment of a biobank of local strains. The populations are at the southern distribution limit of the species in the western Atlantic coast, and the sites (Amorosa in Portugal, Esteiros in Galicia) where the strains were collected are the southernmost sites these occur. Biometric data corresponding to each strain were also collected. For each individual, the biometric data collected were: total length, stipe length, blade and stipe width, meristem and blade thickness, blade area and sori area. For the fertile ones, samples from the reproductive tissue were collected for spore release. Tissue samples were also collected for genotyping. Presently, the biobank includes 44 strains of the Amorosa population and 25 of the Esteiros population.
The data, although limited, indicate that spores are released during the winter, growth occurs during the spring and summer, and in autumn size decreases due to blade erosion when they become reproductive. Indications are that the growing season starts in early spring. Considering the reproductive effort, measured by the percent sori to blade area and number of spores per cm², no obvious trend was observed although the highest values were found in February. Comparing the population biometric data from both sites in the same period, it is apparent that sporophytes from the Galician population are larger, with longer and wider blades. This may be related to adaptation to environmental conditions, especially hydrodynamics, since the Galician site presents more sheltered conditions than the Portuguese site, influencing blade morphology.

End Users & Applications:

• Seaweed farmers could use the biobank data to potentially grow species tailored for specific seaweed farming conditions, making it possible for them to select more suitable, robust seaweed strains better adapted to local conditions.
• Seaweed breeders could use the local biobank for S. latissimia to obtain robust and reliable data to compare the biometric characteristics among S. latissima strains, facilitating the investigation of the influence of a range of genetic and environmental factors. It will assist in the identification of strains with favourable traits for various seaweed farming conditions
• Scientists involved in seaweed aquaculture could use the local biobank to carry out research on further genotyping, which will allow assessment of the genetic diversity in these range-edge populations. They could also study the influence of environmental conditions on phenotypic traits and their relationship with genotypes. In addition, scientists could use the data to develop and improve seaweed aquaculture techniques.

Potential Impacts:

• If seaweed farmers use the knowledge from this output to grow seaweed species tailored for specific farming conditions it could lead to increased seaweed biomass productivity, leading to better economic circumstances for seaweed farmers and increased food security worldwide. Another potential impact is possibly less fluctuation in seaweed production leading to a more stable market and being able to meet the steadily increasing demand etc.
• If seaweed breeders use the biobank data it could assist in the identification and use of strains that could lead to higher biomass yield and other favourable traits for various seaweed farming conditions
• If seaweed scientists use the data from the biobank data it could potentially lead to improved seaweed aquaculture techniques, leading to e.g. higher productivity, better (less) environmental impacts, etc.

Knowledge Owners:

Please contact GENIALG partner CIIMAR:
Isabel Azevedo iazevedo@ciimar.up.pt
Isabel Sousa Pinto isabel.sousa.pinto@gmail.com

Output Description:

Light quality is a fundamental driver for the growth and metabolism of seaweeds. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs – an electronic device that emits light when an electrical current is passed through it) have become an advanced and cost-effective technology in algal production. Past studies have only focused on physiological parameters separately e.g. growth rate and photosynthetic pigment synthesis, instead of integrating these and other parameters such as photosynthesis rate and antioxidant capacity – which are desirable for industrial food applications. Our goal was to assess the effects of light quality on biomass growth and quality of Saccharina latissima, particularly on production of antioxidant compounds, such as pigments.
Thus, this KO demonstrates the effects of white (W), green (G), red (R) and blue (B) LEDs on the growth (fresh weight and growth surface area), photosynthetic activity (PAM), pigments profile and production (HPLC-DAD determination), and antioxidant capacity of S. latissima.

End Users & Applications:

• Seaweed researchers with a focus on developing and improving seaweed aquaculture techniques can apply the knowledge output to get better insight into the effects of different coloured LEDs on S. latissima biomass growth, photosynthetic activity, pigment production and antioxidant capacity
• Seaweed breeders could apply the knowledge output to modulate S. latissima biomass growth, photosynthetic activity, pigment production and antioxidant capacity
• Seaweed farmers could apply the knowledge output to influence desired physiological parameters, e.g. to aid optimal biomass growth, and production of antioxidant compounds such as pigments

Potential Impacts:

• If academics use the knowledge from this output to influence seaweed physiological parameters/characteristics, this would allow development and improvement of seaweed aquaculture techniques in seaweed research laboratories, not just for S. latissima but potentially for other seaweed species too
• Application of this knowledge by seaweed breeders could assist seaweed breeding programmes, by enabling them to optimise breeding and growing conditions for S. latissima and potentially for other seaweed species too
• Application of this knowledge by seaweed farmers could potentially lead to increased production and income via diversification of their seaweed produced and expansion of their customer base

Knowledge Owners:

Please contact GENIALG partner CIIMAR:
Helena Amaro hamaro@ciimar.up.pt
Isabel Azevedo iazevedo@ciimar.up.pt
Isabel Sousa Pinto ispinto@ciimar.up.pt

Output Description:

Light quality is a key factor affecting algal growth, morphogenesis, photosynthesis, and pigment production. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have become an advanced, cost-effective and energy-efficient technology in indoor algal production. Past studies have only focused on physiological parameters separately, e.g. growth rate and photosynthetic pigment synthesis, instead of integrating these and other parameters such as photosynthesis rate and antioxidant capacity – which are desirable for industrial food applications. This KO demonstrates the use of light quality as a tool to modulate indoor production of Ulva sp. affecting its growth, photosynthetic activity, pigment production and antioxidant capacity while increasing its bioactive potential. First, the monochromatic effects of white (W), green (G), red (R) and blue (B) LEDs were tested, on growth (fresh weight and growth surface area), photosynthetic activity (PAM), pigments profile and production (HPLC-DAD determination), and antioxidant capacity using several methods (ABTS+•, O2•− and •NO assays). Then, using the monochromatic LED that yielded the best results, the effect of an addition of far-red LED (FR) was studied.
Results revealed that no statistical differences were observed in highest growth under W, R and B. However, under G, Ulva sp. attained a quicker photosynthetic acclimation rate, and the highest content in pigments, which was reflected on its antioxidant bioactivity. Also, Ulva sp. grown under R and W, seems to produce antioxidant compounds particularly against the two radicals O2•− and •NO. The addition of FR to W and G induced an improvement of photosynthetic acclimation rate, growth and the production of antioxidant compounds against O2•−radical, particularly in Ulva sp. cultivated under GRF.

End Users & Applications:

• Seaweed researchers with a focus on developing and improving seaweed aquaculture techniques can apply the knowledge output to get better insight into the effects of different coloured LEDs on Ulva sp. biomass growth, photosynthetic activity, pigment production and antioxidant capacity
• Seaweed breeders could apply the knowledge output to improve Ulva sp. characteristics such as biomass growth, photosynthetic activity, pigment production and antioxidant capacity
• Seaweed farmers could apply the knowledge output to influence desired physiological parameters e.g. to aid optimal biomass growth, production of antioxidant compounds such as pigments

Potential Impacts:

• If seaweed laboratory researchers use the knowledge from this output to influence seaweed physiological parameters/characteristics, this would allow development and improvement of seaweed aquaculture techniques used by seaweed researchers, not just for Ulva sp. but potentially for other seaweed species too
• Application of this knowledge by seaweed breeders could assist seaweed breeding programmes, by enabling them to optimise breeding and growing conditions for Ulva sp. and potentially for other seaweed species too
• Application of this knowledge by seaweed farmers could potentially lead to increased production and income via diversification of their seaweed produced and expansion of their customer base

Knowledge Owners:

Please contact GENIALG partner CIIMAR:
Helena Amaro hamaro@ciimar.up.pt
Isabel Azevedo iazevedo@ciimar.up.pt
Isabel Sousa Pinto ispinto@ciimar.up.pt

Output Description:

Light quality affects algal growth and it is known that light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are an energy-efficient and cost-effective technology that has been shown to improve algal production in artificial environments. Previous studies focused on one population of Ulva sp., looking only at biomass and bioactive compound production, which are appropriate for industrial applications. However, it is known that the effects of light quality are strain dependent.
Having per base previous results, this knowledge output ascertains the effects of light quality on Ulva sp. strains collected from different populations off the Portuguese coast. Monochromatic effect of white (W), green (G), red (R) and blue (B) LEDs were tested on growth (fresh weight and growth surface area), pigments profile and production (HPLC-DAD determination), as well as antioxidant capacity, using several methods. Results so far have revealed that there are observed differences among the different Ulva sp. strains in terms of growth. Further analysis will be carried out in the coming months.

End Users & Applications:

• Seaweed researchers with a focus on developing and improving seaweed aquaculture techniques can apply the knowledge output to get better insight into the effects of different coloured LEDs on different Ulva sp. strains in terms of biomass growth, pigments and antioxidant capacity
• Seaweed breeders could apply the knowledge output to improve Ulva sp. characteristics such as biomass growth, pigments and antioxidant capacity
• Seaweed farmers could apply the knowledge output to influence desired characteristics, such as biomass growth depending on the Ulva sp. they want to cultivate

Potential Impacts:

• If seaweed laboratory researchers use the knowledge from this output to influence seaweed strain growth, this would allow development and improvement of seaweed aquaculture techniques in seaweed research laboratories, not just for Ulva sp. strains but potentially for other seaweed species strains too
• Application of this knowledge by seaweed breeders could assist seaweed breeding programmes, by enabling them to optimise growing conditions for Ulva sp. strains and potentially for other seaweed species strains too
• Application of this knowledge by seaweed farmers could lead to increased production and income via diversification of their seaweed produced

Knowledge Owners:

Please contact GENIALG partner CIIMAR:
Helena Amaro hamaro@ciimar.up.pt
Isabel Azevedo iazevedo@ciimar.up.pt
Isabel Sousa Pinto ispinto@ciimar.up.pt

Output Description:

Ulva foliose species, known commonly as sea lettuce are edible, mostly marine and brackish water green macroalgae or seaweed, although some tubular species can also grow in freshwater. Foliose (or lobed, leaf-like) Ulva species are increasingly important worldwide for their environmental and financial impacts. Many such Ulva species have rapid reproductive and proliferation rates, which explains why they are responsible for Ulva blooms, also known as “green tides”. This characteristic makes them attractive for aquaculture applications.

Despite the increasing interest on the larger foliose Ulva species for aquaculture, their inter‐ and intra‐specific genetic diversity was previously poorly described. This KO describes for the first time the distribution of Ulva foliose species worldwide. The results are based on GENIALG sampling efforts carried out in the North East Atlantic area and on all foliose Ulva sequences available in National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database where locality has been provided. The cytoplasmic genome (chloroplast and mitochondrion) of 110 strains of large distromatic (two cells thick) foliose Ulva from Ireland, Brittany (France), the Netherlands and Portugal were compared. Main novel findings are the occurrence of six different species, with high levels of inter‐specific genetic diversity, despite highly similar or overlapping morphologies. The KO confirms the absence of Ulva lactuca in the North East Atlantic and a large number of misannotations in the NCBI database, especially about U. laetevirens and U. rigida. Another novel finding of this KO is that Ulva foliose species distribution vary largely worldwide, but also even between nearby locations such as those between Ireland and Brittany in France. This KO represents an important advance in our understanding of Ulva biology and provides genetic information for genomic selection of large foliose strains in aquaculture.

End Users & Applications:

• Seaweed research laboratories with a focus on developing and improving seaweed aquaculture techniques could apply the KO to get better insight into Ulva species and build upon the knowledge for further research. Similarly, research laboratories working on the valorisation of Ulva biomass will properly define the species they are working with, allowing other labs and industry to better apply their discoveries.
• Seaweed breeders could apply the KO to select which Ulva species they work with depending on the area and characteristics of the species e.g., biomass growth, photosynthetic activity, pigment production and antioxidant capacity etc
• Seaweed farmers can use this knowledge to better select and grow those Ulva species that grow best in their geographic area and have optimal reproduction and proliferation habits as well as nutritional content and biochemical composition.
• Marine ecologists can apply this KO by identifying properly which Ulva species are indeed responsible for green tides in different areas worldwide and assess the ecosystem services provided by some Ulva species.
• Policy makers related to aquaculture development and planning could use the knowledge to improve/adapt existing legislation if needed, establish new policies and make decisions to optimise seaweed farming development in Europe. E.g., for any Ulva species to be used in the food industry, they must be approved at EU policy/decision maker level. The number of authorised Ulva species for use in the food industry will need to be updated/increased to allow the sector to grow, for the benefit of consumers.
• Industry can apply this KO by selecting the Ulva species they want to use for their applications, which will provide them with more confidence about the stability of the nutritional and biochemical composition of the biomass they use e.g., in applications such as in food, feed, biostimulants and pharmaceuticals.

Potential Impacts:

• If seaweed research laboratories will have increased knowledge of Ulva species they work with. It will lead to much more knowledge impact, for example towards further development and improvement of seaweed aquaculture techniques and knowledge in seaweed research laboratories, contributing to a more knowledge-able seaweed sector. It could lead to a large decrease in misannotations of Ulva species worldwide and decrease in spurious sequences within the NCBI database Similarly, research laboratories working on Ulva biomass valorisation will make their discoveries much easier to be transferred to industry as industry will know which species, so which biomass they should use.
• If seaweed breeders apply the KO to gain more knowledge on all Ulva species, a potential impact could be improved and better-informed seaweed breeding programmes, which could contribute to increased Ulva production.
• If seaweed farmers are able to identify which Ulva species grow best locally, they would be able to aid optimal biomass growth and reproduction, with as potential impact of increased production and income from seaweed, as well as expansion of their customer base, through more consumers eating seaweed.
• If marine ecologists apply this KO enabling them to identify which Ulva species are responsible for green tides in a specific area, could help prevent Ulva blooms responsible for green tides
• If policymakers optimise regulations around seaweed farming based on this KO, it could support further expansion of the seaweed sector in Europe, through better regulations, licensing and funding. Changes in the legislation around the use of Ulva species will enable more species to be utilised in industrial and food applications, increasing the economic possibilities in different geographic areas
• If industry such as food, feed, biostimulants, pharmaceuticals apply this KO it would allow them to have more confidence about the quality/stability of the raw biomass they use to produce their end products.

Knowledge Owners:

Please contact GENIALG partner NUIG:
Antoine Fort antoine.fort@nuigalway.ie
Ronan Sulpice ronan.sulpice@nuigalway.ie

Go to GENIALG spin-off company: Pristine Coasts Ltd

Output Description:

Saccharina latissima is a European kelp species characterised by fast growth, high biomass yield, a wide geographic distribution and commercialisation potential, making it a good candidate for commercial cultivation. Also known as sugar kelp, it is a cold-water species that grows best at water temperatures ranging from 10 to 15 °C and in moderately exposed environments. European seaweed cultivation is underdeveloped and currently cannot meet the demand expectations of the rapidly developing seaweed food industry. Without a guarantee for the requested quantity and quality of seaweed biomass, the seaweed processing industry is hesitant to invest in product development, and without the demand for delivery of the large quantities that the food industry would represent the seaweed farmers on the other hand are hesitant to scale up. Improved cultivation technology and a better understanding of the production potential and biomass quality of seaweed is thus strongly needed to ensure growth in the European seaweed industry.

This KO concerns novel seaweed biomass production data obtained from a two-year baseline monitoring study that was carried out to demonstrate the production potential of S. latissima by different seaweed farmers in three geographic regions within Europe: France, Ireland and Norway. The cultivation partners used a common protocol to measure the biomass development up to six times per cultivation season, including monitoring of the density, wet weight, size (L x W), epiphytes and sampling for chemical compositional analysis. This knowledge outputs demonstrates productivity of S.  latissima strongly varied between the three geographic regions and between harvest years. With a harvest in April-May, a yield of 6 kg m^-1 of seaweed biomass could be expected to be produced for food use.  A maximum yield of 12 kg m^-1 of seaweed biomass could be expected to be produced if farmers postponed harvesting until June. This study showed all three farms could commit to delivering 6 kg m^-1 of seaweed biomass if they all delayed harvest until June. June is the optimal month for harvesting S. latissima biomass for chemical processing and biorefinery use, as the quality of the sporophytes are still fine for this purpose. However, it is important to note that by delaying harvest until June, biofouling especially by bryozoans (aquatic invertebrate animals) must be expected and may reduce the quality of the biomass therefore strongly restricting its applications e.g., it probably would not be suitable for use in fine food products. Despite this higher risk of biofouling, for most farmers who usually harvest in April, it is advised that the farm lines be designed to have three times the April weight on their lines i.e., in relation to mooring, drag forces and buoyancy. This is because depending on the final product, it can be preferable to delay harvesting until June, as this study shows there can still be very good growth after April.

End Users & Applications:

• This knowledge is important for seaweed farmers as it would assist them to decide a) the size of the farm site needed, and b) how much biomass the farm can commit to deliver to meet customer demands.
• Seaweed research laboratories could apply this knowledge in their biological studies and technological development to plan and scope new research regarding e.g., geographical and seasonal variations in growth and biomass development, onset of biofouling, effects of seeding/stocking densities.
• This knowledge gives the seaweed processing industry an indication of how much biomass they can expect from a seaweed farming region and when the fresh biomass will be available.
• The three geographic regions (Ireland, Norway and France) described in this research differed in biomass yields but it is not yet known whether this was due to environmental or genetic differences. This baseline data is useful for seaweed breeders as a reference for what can be expected and what to improve in the breeding of seaweeds.
• For planning within the seaweed industry, regulators and policy/decision makers at regional and national levels would need this information about the production potentials to prepare regulations for new areas of seaweed farming.

Potential Impacts:

• More predictable biomass production and more reliable seaweed farms as the seaweed farmers can plan their production better to meet the demand from the buyers, and they have a better ability to position their farm sites to avoid damage due to rough weather
• Baseline data from the three regions (Ireland, Norway and France) make it easier to plan and scope new research on optimisation of biomass production of kelp, epiphytic biofouling, chemical composition, cultivation technology and growth modelling.
• Knowledge on the amount of biomass that can be expected and the quality of it for different applications is crucial for the development of seaweed farming to meet the demands of the seaweed processing industry. The processing industry need to know how big the production of seaweed biomass by the farmers in their region is and how much they can expect both to estimate their production and demand for more.
• Baseline data from the three regions (Ireland, Norway and France) is necessary to plan possible seaweed breeding programmes.
• This knowledge enables regulators and policy/decision makers at regional and national levels to facilitate regulations of new sea and ocean areas for seaweed farming and to elaborate strategies for the marine bioeconomy in their region/country.

Knowledge Owners:

Please contact GENIALG partners SINTEF and SES:
Jorunn Skjermo jorunn.skjermo@sintef.no
Frank Neumann neumann@seaweedsolutions.com

Output Description:

Macroalgae aquaculture is thriving, and kelps such as Saccharina latissima are now farmed over different production sites across Europe. Macroalgae production in integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) setups is gaining relevance due to increased biomass yield and bioremediation potential. IMTA is the farming, in proximity, of species from different trophic levels (e.g., fish and seaweed) and with complementary ecosystem functions in a way that allows one species’ uneaten feed and wastes, nutrients and by-products (e.g., from fish aquaculture) to be recaptured and converted into fertiliser or feed for the other crop (e.g., seaweed). This co-cultivation system takes advantage of the synergistic interactions between the different species. Nevertheless, there is a substantiated need to understand how this type of production shapes biomass yield and composition of the end product.

This KO concerns novel knowledge on biomass yield and the elemental and biochemical composition (including lipid content) of cultivated S latissima, depending on harvesting time and proximity to salmon farms. In relation to biomass, the KO evidences that kelp biomass yield is significantly higher in the salmon IMTA system, compared to the reference location, over all three harvesting periods (April, May, June), and that nutritional quality of the kelp is not compromised. It was also found that S. latissima biochemical/lipid composition changed remarkably with harvesting period. Elemental and biochemical composition differed between kelp biomass harvested in April and those harvested in May and June, with lower C, H and carbohydrates, and higher ash contents in the later dates. Fatty acid (FA) profile analysis revealed an increase in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) along the harvesting period, as well as a decrease in n-3 FA with a simultaneous increase of the n-6/n-3 ratio from April to May. Statistical analysis of the polar lipidome identified by LC-MS/MS revealed differences in specific lipid signatures, displaying a perfect discrimination between harvesting periods. The discrimination between samples from reference and IMTA sites was only observed for kelp biomass harvested in June. Contributing particularly to these differences are betaine lipids, more abundant in the two later time points, and some lysolipid species, especially abundant in June. This is the first research to report biomass discrimination between cultivation approaches based on lipid profile. These findings will allow a more integrated look at macroalgae production under IMTA framework, thus promoting the systematisation of farming practices that may enhance yield with biochemical quality to match the increasing demands by the food industry and sustainable biorefinery pipeline. Moreover, this study contributes to establish IMTA production as advantageous setups for seaweed production, guaranteeing biomass quality along with an added benefit of bioremediation.

End Users & Applications:

• Seaweed aquaculture producers could use these results to better understand and optimise/increase seaweed production in IMTA setups, also exploring collection period as a modulator of yield and quality.
• Food/feed industries could take up this KO to optimise S. latissima production by integration in IMTA setups and therefore obtain higher biomass and desired composition of seaweed.
• Nutraceutical producers can use this KO to determine optimal time of harvesting of S. latissima to specifically target compounds of interest to use in the industry.
• Pharmaceutical and cosmetic producers could use this KO to explore time of harvesting to optimise yield of compounds of interest.
• Policy/decision makers could make use of this KO as a scientifically sound basis to make decisions on providing seaweed farm licences to new seaweed sites (in combination with existing aquaculture farms)

Potential Impacts:

• If seaweed aquaculture producers use these results to prioritise seaweed production in IMTA setups, the potential impact could be an increased yield with the same quality, potentially leading to higher profits at farm and sector level, as well as increased food security for consumers. Uptake would also promote fish farms as profitable sites for the implementation of seaweed production with a bioremediation upside.
• Potential impact on food/feed industries could be increased sales and profits from seaweed-based products that have an optimised composition which is also known and indicated to consumers, assuring more available information about products, and also highlighting the benefits and the safety of products.
• Uptake of this KO by nutraceutical producers could lead to increased and optimised seaweed-based products becoming available on the market, leading to a better health profile of the population and possibly lower prices for consumers.
• Uptake of this KO by pharmaceutical and cosmetic producers could lead to increased and optimised seaweed-based products becoming available on the market, leading to a better health profile of the population and possibly lower prices for consumers.
• If policy/decision makers make use of this KO to provide more seaweed farm licences it will potentially lead to more seaweed farms and increased overall seaweed production, leading to higher profits for the industry and better availability of (healthy) seaweed-based products for consumers.

Knowledge Owner:

Please contact GENIALG partner UAVEIRO:
Rosário Domingues mrd@ua.pt

Output Description:

Increasing global demand for food has generated a need for new strategies to feed a fast-growing population. Oceans appear as a sustainable solution, providing alternative sources of food such as macroalgae. These sea vegetables have high nutritional value and provide functional and health benefits. The sugar kelp, Saccharina latissima is an emerging edible seaweed used mainly for human consumption. Although much is known about its biochemical compositions, its lipidome remains unexplored. The aim of the present study was to characterize the polar lipid profile of S. latissima using a lipidomic-mass spectrometry HILIC-LC-MS based analysis. This approach allowed the identification of 197 molecular species of polar lipids, including glycolipids, phospholipids and betaine lipids. Several molecular species identified are carriers of polyunsaturated fatty acids with nutritional value and have been reported with anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and antiproliferative activity. S. latissima is an emerging candidate to promote blue biotechnology inspired by the ocean.

End Users & Applications:

• Food/Feed industries could take up/increase the use of S. latissima as an alternative source of lipid that also has high nutritional value, e.g. incorporation into new high-value products
• Nutraceutical producers could potentially take up the use of S. latissima for development of nutraceutical therapies for the treatment of tumours, inflammatory conditions and infections in humans and animals
• Pharmaceutical and cosmetics producers could potentially take up the use of S. latissima for drug development for the treatment of tumours, inflammatory conditions and infections in humans and animals
• Animal feed manufacturers and farmers could potentially take up the use of S. latissima for the treatment of animal health issues

Potential Impacts:

• Incorporation of S. latissima as an alternative source of lipid that also has high nutritional value into new high-value products, could increase consumption by consumers and so contribute to a healthier population
• Nutraceutical producers could potentially take up the use of S. latissima for development of nutraceutical therapies for the treatment of tumours, inflammatory conditions and infections in humans and animals, which could lead to a decrease in mortalities, disease prognosis, etc.
• Pharmaceutical and cosmetics producers could potentially take up the use of S. latissima for new natural drug development for the treatment of tumours, inflammatory conditions and infections in humans and animals, which could lead to a decrease in mortalities, disease prognosis, etc.
• Animal feed manufacturers and farmers could potentially take up the use of S. latissima, leading to better animal health and eventually potentially better consumer health

Knowledge Owner:

Please contact GENIALG partner UAVEIRO:
Rosário Domingues mrd@ua.pt

Go to: GENIALG Biorefinery Manual – Benefits and Sustainability of Seaweed Biorefinery

Output Description:

This KO concerns the novel application of three seaweed processing enzymes (ulvan lyase, alginate lyase and laminarinase) in enzyme-assisted extraction specifically of seaweed polysaccharides from seaweeds. These three enzymes were discovered and characterised by GENIALG coordinator CNRS Roscoff in previous years (before GENIALG) and preliminary lab-scale testing has now shown these enzymes to be highly effective in the breakdown of different seaweed polysaccharides. So far, these seaweed processing enzymes have only been produced and used at laboratory scale and have not been applied yet to extract seaweed at this higher scale.
Enzyme treatment of seaweed is a fairly recent technique to extract valuable elements and is a more sustainable processing methodology than the use of chemicals, which is the classical approach. Problems associated with chemical hydrolysis include the release of high amounts of monosaccharides and undesirable toxic products. Application of seaweed polysaccharide-targeted enzymes allows for selective extraction at mild conditions as well as tailor-made modifications to obtain specific functionalities. Enzymatic breakdown of seaweed polysaccharides leads to production of high-value seaweed elements such as bioactive oligosaccharides, fucoidan, ulvan, alginate and proteins, that can be used in different food, pharmaceutical and biotechnological applications.
Alginates are the most abundant polysaccharides found in brown algal species such as Saccharina latissimia. They are already exploited commercially for applications in the food and pharmaceutical sectors. Ulvans are one of the major structural polysaccharides found in the cell walls of green macroalgae. They display several physicochemical and biological properties with potential applications as food/feed ingredients, pharmaceuticals, and biomaterials, as well as plant immunomodulators and growth promoters. Ulvans are also a source of the rare sugar iduronic acid, which has applications in the chemical synthesis of heparin analogs. Green algal cell wall polysaccharides have thus far received little industry interest and green algae in general remain largely unexploited. Fucoidan is a sulphated polysaccharide found mainly in various species of brown seaweed. Fucoidan has potential applications in the pharmaceuticals and food sectors due to its promising bioactivities including antioxidant, anti-tumour, anti-coagulant, anti-thrombotic, immunoregulatory, anti-viral and anti-inflammatory effects.

End Users & Applications:

• Scale-up organisations could scale up the production of these enzymes for novel application of the seaweed-processing enzymes in enzyme-assisted extraction specifically of seaweed polysaccharides from seaweeds
• Enzyme users e.g. food, feed, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical manufacturers etc. could apply the knowledge by using these novel specific enzymes to extract seaweed compounds from different types of seaweed for use in their biorefined consumer products. Enzyme-assisted extraction specifically of seaweed polysaccharides from seaweeds could be useful to make tailor-made seaweed extracts with specific bioactivity

Potential Impacts:

• Application of this protocol by scale-up organisations could result in higher or new production of certain useful elements that were previously either not possible to produce, or only in limited quantities. Use of this protocol would also result in a decrease in the amount of waste produced by the seaweed industry.
• If food, feed etc. manufacturers would use the novel application this could for example reduce the use of the classical chemical approach, leading to less pollution, harmful toxic by-products and a decrease in the amount of waste produced by the seaweed industry.

Knowledge Owner:

Please contact GENIALG partner CNRS:
Diane Jouanneau djouanneau@sb-roscoff.fr

Go to: GENIALG Biorefinery Manual – Benefits and Sustainability of Seaweed Biorefinery

Output Description:

Seaweed biorefinery is the whole process of refining sustainably cultivated seaweed biomass to obtain value-added end products or ingredients of value-added end products. The seaweed is converted/divided into a spectrum of valuable compounds, which can be used as biopolymers, and for cosmetics, agri-foods, food supplements and bio-based chemicals, to name but a few. One of the most important steps in the biorefinery process is the solid-liquid extraction. The extraction step refers to the breakdown of seaweed cells potentiating the release of different components or fractions. This first step of extraction can be carried out using chemical, physical and enzymatic processes to aid the cell to release and/or the components be extracted (meaning the compounds are recovered from the solid biomass into a liquid system/solution). Fractions/products of seaweed include cellulose, proteins, lipids, pigments and polysaccharides; with many having bioactive components with various biological activities.

Although chlorophyll extraction from live material is not new, the previously reported methodologies are in their vast majority based on the use of hazardous and volatile organic solvents or mechanical treatments that lead to the increase of temperature and partial thermal degradation of the pigments. One method of extraction for hydrophobic compounds like chlorophylls, is the use of organic solvents. In this KO, the use of volatile organic solvents was replaced by using an aqueous solution on an ionic liquid including water liquid-liquid extraction, but where water is used as one of the main components. This novel method not only made the process much more efficient, but also, more sustainable and biocompatible considering the use of water as the main solvent. This KO represents a novel and effective method to obtain chlorophylls from Ulva spp. seaweed. First, the solid-liquid extraction of chlorophylls was carried out using alternative solvent mainly composed of water with enhanced yield of extractions in comparison with conventional solvents. Here, wild-harvested and farm-raised Ulva spp. were studied and compared in terms of their chlorophyll content. The effect of the drying process in the chlorophyll stability was also studied. Also in this work, the stability of the chlorophyll in the alternative extracts was studied as well as the economic reliability of the proposed methodologies. As a result, it was concluded the alternative solvents in aqueous solutions were proven to be a good and profitable alternative in the recovery of chlorophylls, thus allowing the replacement of the conventional organic solvents. The implementation of this method will allow for the development of more sustainable processes of extraction and purification of seaweeds, simultaneously enabling seaweed processors to obtain highly pure extracts.

End Users & Applications:

• Seaweed processing industries with a focus on developing new products could apply this novel fractionation method to recover and obtain other value-added components of the Ulva seaweed they process (namely the extracts rich in each pigment), potentially expanding their range of biorefined consumer products, and in turn improving the seaweed value chain.
• Extracted chlorophylls can be applied as a photosensitiser in photodynamic therapy used by oncologists, this could potentially be used for the treatment of various health conditions including cancers, but as the TRL level of the KO is currently low this application would not be feasible for quite some time

Potential Impacts:

• Seaweed processing industries will have the capacity to obtain seaweed constituents such as chlorophylls and carotenoids in a sustainable and (hopefully) an industrial viable way, while also obtaining high yields of extraction with high stability of the extracts. In the end, these methodologies may be implemented as part of a biorefinery chain, thus increasing the revenues of the company and improving the seaweed value chain If seaweed processing industries would use the novel fractionation method it could for example reduce the use of the classical chemical approach, leading to less pollution, harmful toxic by-products and a decrease in the amount of waste produced by the seaweed industry.
• If in the future oncology therapists could apply the KO in photodynamic therapy, the potential impact could be an increased survival rate in cancer patients

Knowledge Owner:

Please contact GENIALG partner UAVEIRO:
Sónia P. M. Ventura spventura@ua.pt

Go to: GENIALG Biorefinery Manual – Benefits and Sustainability of Seaweed Biorefinery

Output Description:

Seaweed biorefinery is the whole process of refining sustainably cultivated seaweed biomass to obtain value-added end products or ingredients to be applied in the formulation of value-added end products. The seaweed is converted/divided into a spectrum of valuable compounds, which can be used as biopolymers, and for cosmetics, agri-foods, food supplements and bio-based chemicals, to name but a few. The biorefinery process consists of mainly two steps, the first one representing the solid-liquid extraction and the second one is represented by the purification/separation of the different compounds extracted from the biomass (in the first step). The extraction step refers to the breakdown of seaweed cells potentiating the release of different components or fractions. The purification step refers to the separation of different fractions, classes of compounds or one compound extracted simultaneously from the biomass to the solvent. This first step of extraction can be carried out using chemical, physical and enzymatic processes to aid the cell to release and/or the components be extracted (meaning the recovery of the compounds from the solid biomass into a liquid system/solution). The second step can be performed by applying chromatography, conventional liquid-liquid extraction, solid-phase extraction or chemical processes, which will allow the separation of different compounds/classes of compounds. The purer fractions/products obtained from seaweed include cellulose, proteins, lipids, hydrophylic and hydrophobic pigments and polysaccharides; with many having bioactive components with various biological activities e.g., the xanthophyll pigment, fucoxanthin. The most abundantly found hydrophobic pigments in seaweeds are chlorophylls, carotenoids and xanthophylls.

Although the extraction and purification of hydrophobic pigments (chlorophyll and fucoxanthin) from live material is not new, the previously reported methodologies are in their vast majority based on the use of hazardous and volatile organic solvents or mechanical treatments that lead to the increase of temperature and a partial thermal degradation of the pigment or even lowering the purity of the final products. An alternative method of extraction is the use of an aqueous solution of an ionic liquid. The use of water-based solvents at room temperature appears to be a more sustainable and biocompatible approach. Previously, researchers demonstrated a novel and effective method to obtain chlorophylls from Ulva spp. seaweed using an aqueous solution of a different ionic liquid. This KO involves not only the novel extraction of the hydrophobic pigments but also a novel method for the purification/separation of the pigments from each other, by applying an alternative type of liquid-liquid extraction, which involves the use of water, oil and a small concentration of an ionic liquid. This KO is a single-step methodology proposed to recover and purify both pigments, using aqueous solutions of ionic liquids and vegetable oil as the method of carrying out the separation of each class of pigment (chlorophylls and fucoxanthin). It is hoped the alternative solvents in aqueous solutions will prove to be a good and profitable alternative in the recovery and purification of chlorophylls and fucoxanthin, thus allowing the replacement of the conventional organic solvents and purification methodologies. If successful, the implementation of this method allows for the development of more sustainable processes of extraction and purification of seaweeds, simultaneously enabling seaweed processors to obtain highly pure extracts.

End Users & Applications:

• Seaweed processing industries with a focus on developing new products could apply this potentially novel extraction and purification method to recover and obtain more value-added components from the Saccharina latissima seaweed they process (namely the extracts rich in each pigment) potentially expanding their range of products to offer to consumers, and in turn improving the seaweed value chain
• Extracted chlorophylls can be applied as a photosensitiser in photodynamic therapy used by oncologists, this could potentially be used for the treatment of various health conditions including cancers, but as the TRL level of the KO is currently low this application would not be feasible for quite some time.

Potential Impacts:

• Seaweed processing industries will have the capacity to obtain seaweed constituents such as chlorophylls and xanthophylls (particularly fucoxanthin, a bioactive compound from this macroalga) in a sustainable and (hopefully) an industrial viable way, while also obtaining high yields of extraction with high stability of the extracts. In the end, these methodologies may be implemented as part of a biorefinery chain, thus increasing the revenues of the company and improving the seaweed value chain. If seaweed processing industries used the novel extraction and purification process it could, for example, reduce the use of the classical chemical approach, leading to less pollution, harmful toxic by-products and a decrease in the amount of waste produced by the seaweed industry.
• If in the future oncology therapists could apply the KO in photodynamic therapy, the potential impact could be an increased survival rate in cancer patients

Knowledge Owner:

Please contact GENIALG partner UAVEIRO:
Sónia P. M. Ventura spventura@ua.pt

Go to: GENIALG Biorefinery Manual – Benefits and Sustainability of Seaweed Biorefinery

Output Description:

Macroalgae of the genus Ulva have long been used as human food. Local growing conditions may impact their composition and consequently seaweed uses as food and ingredients for health-related applications. In the study leading to this KO, wild-harvested Ulva spp. (the possibility of having more than a single Ulva species cannot be excluded for wild-harvested biomass) from France (FR) and cultivated Ulva rigida from Portugal (PT) were compared in terms of proximate composition and profiles of esterified fatty acids, fatty acid-containing polar lipids, and non-polar lipophilic-type compounds. Lipids are essential molecules that maintain the integrity of the cells and can act as signalling compounds to control vital biological processes and protect organisms from surrounding harsh environments. Owing to seaweeds’ habitat diversity, lipid composition is influenced by environmental factors, natural and anthropogenic based, in turn influencing the seaweed nutritional composition. Polar lipids are the most abundant class of lipids in several seaweeds species and are often labelled as valuable phytochemicals. Esterified fatty acids, namely omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids known for their beneficial health impact, are components of polar lipids. Thus, polar lipids represent a valuable source of fatty acids, with interest for several applications, namely in nutraceutical and cosmetic industry. Fatty acid-containing polar lipids are also associated to several bioactive properties and potential health benefits, namely as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antitumoral compounds. Non-polar lipophilic-type compounds include different classes of compounds as acylglycerols, sterols, free fatty acids, long-chain aliphatic alcohols, and diterpenes. These non-polar compounds are also described as bioactive with potential health benefits and applications. For example, long-chain aliphatic alcohols may have an important role in the regulation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels.

This KO concerns novel knowledge on the lipid composition of wild-harvested Ulva spp. (in France (FR)) compared to cultivated U. rigida samples from Portugal (PT). Wild-harvested Ulva spp. samples from FR had a higher content of proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates and other compounds (estimated by difference), whereas ash content was found to be higher in cultivated U. rigida samples from PT. The profiles of fatty acids, polar lipids and non-polar lipophilic-type compounds also differed significantly. FR samples displayed a higher content of n-3 polyunsaturated FA, whereas PT samples showed a higher content of monounsaturated fatty acids. The quantification of glycolipids and phospholipids revealed higher contents in PT samples. In contrast, a higher content of non-polar lipophilic-type compounds, mainly free fatty acids were found in FR samples. These findings should be considered when targeting certain components of Ulva spp. seaweeds such as polar lipids and lipophilic-type components to meet the increasing demands for them by the food and other industries.

End Users & Applications:

• Seaweed farmers could apply this knowledge to make decisions on which Ulva species to farm, where and how, establishing cultivation sites in those areas that aid optimal production of desired components such as polar lipids and lipophilic-type components in order to meet the increasing demands for them by the food and biofuel industries.
• Seaweed breeders could apply this knowledge to focus breeding efforts on those species that contain desired components such as polar lipids and lipophilic-type components in order to meet the increasing demands for them by seaweed farmers.
• Seaweed researchers with a focus on developing and improving Ulva spp. seaweed aquaculture techniques could use this knowledge to further research other data that could help optimise growing seaweed.
• Potential increased supply of desired components such as polar lipids and lipophilic-type components for use in food, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, animal nutraceuticals, cosmetics, bioplastics to name a few, would enable these industries to meet demand while also.
• Validation/certification/food safety bodies could apply the methodology to check whether the seaweed product complies with the information given and validate claims

Potential Impacts:

• Application of this knowledge by seaweed farmers could potentially lead to increased production and income via diversification of their seaweed produced and expansion of their customer base
• Application of this knowledge by seaweed breeders could have a potential impact through improved seaweed breeding programmes, by enabling them to optimise breeding and growing conditions for Ulva spp.
• If seaweed researchers develop further research data it would support the optimisation of growing seaweed in more areas, leading to increased production and higher profit margins for all players in the value chain.
• If seaweed applied industries take up the KO it could potentially lead to less fluctuation in seaweed production leading to a more stable market and being able to meet the steadily increasing demand for biorefined consumer products etc.
• Validation/food safety bodies applying the methodology to check whether the seaweed product complies with the information given will contribute to improved food product safety, quality and traceability.

Knowledge Owner:

Please contact GENIALG partner UAVEIRO:
Rosário Domingues mrd@ua.pt

Go to: GENIALG Biorefinery Manual – Benefits and Sustainability of Seaweed Biorefinery