From Sea to Society

Startdatum: 01/04/2022
Einddatum: 31/03/2026

There is urgent need for an alternative, sustainable, efficient protein production chain. This project involves research into a marine, efficient, sustainable low trophic aquaculture (LTA) value chain, based on biomass from combined seaweed-mussel cultivation. Social innovation and creation of value along the protein production chain form the key goals of the project. They are supported by breakthroughs in the natural sciences, such as selective breeding of sterile seaweeds, innovative biorefinery of seaweed biomass and insight in the carrying capacity of the natural marine ecosystem. The knowledge and skills gained are integrated in the Seaweed Learning Community, that will ensure the LTA continuity.

The Seaweed Learning Community unites researchers in the Netherlands working on an alternative marine protein production chain, based on combined offshore seaweed and mussel cultivation in the North Sea. Funding for the community is guaranteed until September 2026 through NWO-KIC funding for Aquatic Food Production. Our consortium projects are: From Sea to Society, CircAqua, Seaseeds, FloatingFuture, SeaSolv and ProSeeds.

The overall aim of the Seaweed Learning Community is to increase the collective capacity of innovating, working and learning to be able to tackle complex challenges. Members exchange insights and experiences in online and offline meetings.

Its learning agenda is managed by a steering committee. Topics include (a) selective breeding of sugar kelp; (b) improved attachment of sugar kelp; (c) interactions between mussels and seaweed and their performance in the offshore North Sea; (d) the consequences of large scale seaweed culture on the marine ecology; (e) innovative biorefinery of seaweed biomass; (f) low trophic aquaculture value chains; (g) business models for Dutch seaweed; (h) consumer acceptance and social innovation; (i) governance of cross-sector innovation for circular low trophic aquaculture in the North Sea.

Eventually, breakthroughs will find their way through the learning community to the seaweed and mussel sector workers, the processing industry, retailers, and consumers. The learning community will also translate experiences into educational programmes.