It was the 14th Nordic Seaweed Conference. Scientists, industry representatives, NGOs, policymakers, innovators, and ocean enthusiasts gathered from around the world – to share the latest knowledge on seaweed cultivation, processing, and utilization.  

“This year’s conference was truly exceptional,” says Annette Bruhn, Senior Researcher at Ecoscience (ECOS), Aarhus University. “Not just because of the high quality of the talks, but because it felt like something had shifted. We’ve moved from talking about potential — to showing results in large scale.” 

For years, seaweed enthusiasts have promised that these underwater forests could feed both people and livestock, replace plastics and fertilisers, store carbon, and even restore marine life. But data have been lagging behind – documenting both on the benefits, the pitfalls and the challenges. This year, says Annette, those ideas are increasingly crystallised into tangible outcomes. 

“Now we can actually see it happening. Technologies have matured, farms are scaling up, and for the first time, we have real large-scale data on the biodiversity impacts.” 

New breakthroughs  

Among the conference highlights was keynote speaker Vincent Doumeizel, author of The Seaweed Revolution, whose passionate call to “become civilised with the ocean” set the scene. His message — that algae may hold the key to contribute to solving multiple global crises — resonated across scientific and industrial communities. 

From Norway and Sweden came stories of breakthrough technologies: large-scale offshore cultivation systems now being tested in the North Sea, and research partnerships bridging academia and industry to improve cultivation and utilisation of species like Ulva (sea lettuce). 

“It was uplifting to see that large-scale production and harvesting technologies — the kind we all take for granted in agriculture — now are starting to exist for seaweed,” Annette explains. “Suddenly, we’re there.” 

Just as striking were new studies documenting how seaweed farms influence marine biodiversity. “We now have the first thorough studies from a large-scale seaweed production system,” she says. “We’re beginning to understand which cultivation practices promote biodiversity, which doesn’t, and how we can design systems and practices that benefit ocean life the most.” 

Europe’s Strength: Knowledge 

While Asia still dominates global seaweed production — accounting for over 99% of total output — Annette believes Europe’s strength lies elsewhere. 

“In the Nordic region, our advantage is being knowledge-based across industry and science,” she says. “Our companies know what works, what doesn’t, and why. And our researchers are connected across borders - when we hit a barrier, we know who to call to move forward.” 

That blend of collaboration and scientific grounding, she argues, is what will allow Europe to scale up in future - not just in volume, but in value. 

The Power of Networks 

Beyond the main conference, the annual accompanying Seaweed Business Network Meeting — supported by GUDP — illustrated how deeply intertwined science and entrepreneurship have become in the Danish seaweed business. 

“We’ve worked on this network for 15 years,” Annette notes. “But in the past two years, it has really flourished. Companies come in with real challenges, and together we try to solve them — openly, through what we call an ‘open science’ approach.” 

This year, something new happened. Two representatives from ‘Change Ventures’ a new Danish philanthropic foundation joined the network meeting. They listened as small seaweed companies pitched their projects, Løvens Hule-style, highlighting the effect of each their company on the marine environment and ocean restoration. 

“It’s a different kind of investor approach,” Annette says. “Not growth at full speed and at any cost — but patient capital focused on positive impact on nature. That’s exactly what this field needs.” 

CBIO’s Role in the Blue Transition 

Aarhus University’s Center for Circular Bioeconomy (CBIO) has been instrumental in building the foundation for this cross-disciplinary momentum. 

“CBIO has played a huge role in developing this field in Denmark,” Annette says. “Through CBIO, we’ve been able to connect everything — from seaweed cultivation to processing, from food and feed to consumer behaviour and market acceptance.” 

Within CBIO’s network, collaborations span six TECH departments, from ECOS and FOOD to BSS, ANIVET, AGRO and BCE - linking production systems and ecology, with environmental impact, food and feed innovation, and connecting technical solutions to human and market perspectives. “It’s allowed us to look at seaweed as a resource from numerous angles,” she says, “as part of an entire system — from ocean ecology to market adoption.” 

From Potential to Practice 

Looking ahead, Annette sees the next challenge not in production, but in perception.  “We can grow seaweed — both on land and at sea. The real barrier now is getting people to embrace it, eat it and buy it,” she says. “That’s where consumer behaviour research becomes vital: understanding what drives people to try, trust and value seaweed-based products.” 

CBIO and Aarhus University continue to explore new frontiers — from extracting high-value compounds to studying how seaweed cultivation can balance ecological and economic goals. “We’ve planted the seeds,” Annette says with a smile. “Now they’re finally beginning to grow.”