One key challenge is becoming increasingly clear for EU seaweed sector: the production is not adapted to the current market demand. While producers have difficulty to access new markets for brown seaweed, the objective for small holders is not to produce more of these species, but rather diversify in red and green seaweeds that are rather difficult to source in EU from natural beds. This is where the SALINA project brings a distinctive strength: placing species and cultivation methods diversification at the heart of sustainable seaweed aquaculture in Europe.
Diversifying cultivated species
Europe’s cultivated seaweed sector has focused on brown seaweeds such as Saccharina latissima and Alaria esculenta. While the scale up of the long-lines cultivation of these species offer significant opportunities for their alginate composition in biomaterial, cosmetic, plant biostimulants and some food applications, producers are now facing difficulties in selling their biomass at prices that could compete with the brown seaweed harvested from natural beds (Laminaria spp., Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus spp.) or imported from South America (Lessonia spp.) that provide the essential of the feedstock for the current alginate and plant biostimulant industries in Europe. At the same time, the demand for red seaweeds such as Palmaria palmata or Gelidium spp. and green seaweeds such as Ulva spp. is growing, but sourcing these species in Europe, in sufficient quantities, remains difficult for many processors, forcing them to source those species from Asia and North America. This mismatch between available supply and market needs highlights the importance of broadening the range of cultivated species. Diversification is not only an environmental consideration; it is also an economic and strategic necessity. Developing a wider portfolio of relevant cultivated seaweeds can help create new business opportunities for farmers, and support the emergence of a more resilient European seaweed industry. It is also a way to produce all year long, with complementarity period in cultivation between seaweeds.
Diversifying cultivation systems and fostering co-cultivation
The project will investigate the cultivation of Codium sp. and Ulva spp. in land-based ponds, as well as Palmaria sp., Ulva sp. and Gracilaria sp. cultivation at sea. By developing these complementary production approaches, SALINA can help identify the most appropriate production strategies for each species while supporting the development of commercially viable supply chains. Cultivating at sea species that are usually cultivated in ponds will imply some environmental surveys to prevent the spread of opportunistic or alien species but also will be a great opportunity to reduce production cost. SALINA’s approach also recognises that seaweed cultivation cannot follow a single model across Europe. Environmental conditions, infrastructure, and cultivation opportunities vary considerably between regions. Testing different species and production methods across multiple marine environments is therefore essential. SALINA benefits from cultivation trials across several European marine regions, bringing together complementary expertise and environmental conditions. The project involves farms in the Mediterranean basin, through ALGABRAVA; the Atlantic, through MUNGO and TARI; and the Nordic seas, through Kerteminde Seafarm ApS. This geographical diversity provides an opportunity to explore how cultivation strategies perform across different environments and to identify opportunities for regional seaweed production. Finally, the co-cultivation of seaweeds with shellfish has shown promising results. Seaweeds improve local environmental conditions for shellfish, supporting calcification by modifying seawater chemistry and increasing pH in their immediate surroundings. Within SALINA, this approach will be implemented in the Mediterranean Sea through the co-cultivation of red seaweed Gracilaria sp. with mussels at sea. It also represents a strategic opportunity for ALGABRAVA, which gain access to the mussel farmer’s marine space, simplifying the licensing process. Other examples include the co-cultivation of seaweeds and abalone, offering seaweed farmers an additional source of revenue through the production of high-value, lowtrophic-level organisms.
Overcoming the organic certification barriers
While diversifying cultivation is an important step towards meeting market demand, production alone will not be enough. Ensuring that cultivated seaweeds can access the market under recognised certification schemes is another critical challenge. Organic certification is particularly relevant for farmers seeking to supply food and other markets where organic status can influence purchasing decisions and product value. However, obtaining organic certification for cultivated seaweed has proven challenging for many European producers, with practical difficulties arising from the implementation and interpretation of EU organic production rules at national level. Addressing these barriers will be important to ensure that the diversification of European seaweed cultivation translates into tangible market opportunities. This will be the work of the Global Seaweed Coalition within the SALINA partnership.
Ultimately, SALINA’s strength lies in its recognition that the future of European seaweed aquaculture depends not only on producing more, but also on cultivating a greater diversity of species, across different environments, through diverse methods including co-cultivation. By exploring new species, complementary cultivation methods, and production opportunities across European seas, SALINA aims to contribute to a more diversified, competitive, and resilient seaweed sector.