Conference Program

Seagriculture EU
16 - 18 June 2026
Gothenburg, Sweden

Conference Program

The European seaweed industry in transition: survival, scale and real impact

Seagriculture EU 2026 will take place under the theme "The European seaweed industry in transition: survival, scale and real impact".

The European seaweed industry stands at a pivotal crossroads. On one side lies the challenge of survival in a rapidly shifting landscape shaped by evolving markets, tightening regulations, and the realities of climate change. On the other side lies the opportunity to scale sustainably - unlocking the industry’s true potential and creating meaningful, lasting impact. This conference will explore how the sector can navigate the path from promise to practice: addressing barriers to growth, fostering innovation, and shaping a resilient seaweed economy that delivers value to people, planet, and industry alike.

Program is tentative and subject to change.

Site visit to Nordic SeaFarm: Tuesday 16 June 2026

You are invited to an exclusive site visit to Nordic SeaFarm on 16th June. Find out more here.

Conference day 1: Wednesday 17 June 2026

8:00 - 9:00 Welcome Coffee

9:00 - 9:25 Opening of the conference

Keynote presentation
Will be announced shortly

Robert Carleke, Innovation Ventures Manager, Inter IKEA Group, Sweden

Session 1: The European seaweed industry in transition: survival, scale and real impact

The European seaweed industry stands at a crossroad — between survival and scaling toward sustainable growth. This session explores how businesses and researchers are navigating market maturity, regulation, and climate impact, and what it takes to turn potential into real, lasting change.

Coffee Break / Trade Show

Session 2: Biostimulants and biomaterials: hype or hoax?

As seaweed-based biostimulants and biomaterials gain attention as green solutions for agriculture and industry, questions arise about their true effectiveness and scalability. This session examines the science behind the claims, the market drivers fueling the hype, and whether these innovations can deliver on their sustainability promise.

Seaweed in the construction industry: a practical case on designing seaweed based ceiling panels.

Kinge Gardien, Managing Director, Manatee Biomaterials, Sweden

Seaweed nanomaterials: the high value approach.

Dr. Mark Dorris, Chief Executive Officer, Mercel Ltd, United Kingdom

Lunch / Trade Show

Keynote presentation
Mobilising financing for the European seaweed industry.

Adrien Vincent, President, Albatros Advisory , France

Session 3: Panel discussion on today’s financial needs for the maturing European seaweed industry

As the European seaweed industry moves from pilot to scale, financing models must evolve to meet new realities. This panel, , explores today’s investment landscape, the role of emerging offtakers platforms, and how collaboration across the value chain can unlock sustainable growth.

Moderator

Ola Jönsson, Co-founder, Partners in Quest, Sweden

Panelist

Alex Shapiro, Aquaculture Impact Investing Specialist, World Wildlife Fund, United States

Coffee Break / Trade Show

Session 4: Epic fails and honest tales: Mistakes that made us

Failure is an inevitable part of innovation — but it’s rarely discussed openly. In this session, entrepreneurs and researchers share candid stories of what went wrong, what they learned, and how those lessons shaped better science, stronger businesses, and more resilient people.

Tales of epic fails. Lessons learned from 30+ years cultivating seaweeds on-land.

Jeff Hafting, Ph.D., Applied Phycologist, Consultant, Totally Seaweed Consulting, Canada

Honest failures and unreliable successes in the seaweed world – some examples.

Franck Hennequart, Managing Director, ALGAIA, France

Closing of the conference day

Conference dinner at Feskekörka - Gothenburg's iconic Fish Church

Conference day 2: Thursday 18 June 2026

8:00 - 9:00 Welcome Coffee

9:00 - 9:15 Opening of the conference day

Session 5: Professionalizing the seaweed industry: learning from pioneers

As the seaweed sector matures, professionalization becomes key to its long-term success. This session brings together pioneers from both within the seaweed industry and from other industries, sharing experiences, best practices, and lessons learned in building robust, scalable, and credible enterprises.

Coffee Break / Trade Show

Session 6: Overview of seaweed projects in EU and worldwide

Europe hosts a number of projects advancing seaweed cultivation, processing, and product innovation. This session offers an overview of key EU initiatives, alongside selected international projects, highlighting their goals, progress, and the collaborations shaping the global development of the seaweed sector.

Advancing Europe’s Seaweed Sector: SeaMark Results and Pathways to Commercial Exploitation.

Urd Grandorf Bak, Head of R&D Europe, Ocean Rainforest, Faroe Islands

Will be announced shortly

Øivind Bergh, Principal Scientist, Coordinator of OLAMUR , Institute of Marine Research, Norway

Seaweed Research in the Sultanate of Oman: Current Research and Future
Potential.

Ahmed Ali Al-Alawi, Associate Professor, Sultan Qaboos University, Sultanate of Oman

Lunch / Trade Show

Keynote Presentation
J-Blue Credits: Case studies from the world´s first state-backed, stackable, blue carbon credits for wild and farmed seaweeds.

Brian Tsuyoshi Takeda, CEO and Co-Founder, Restorae + Secretariat of International Affairs, Japan Blue Economy Association, Norway / Japan

Session 7: Seaweeds for value: carbon capture, biodiversity and beyond

Seaweeds offer more than just commercial potential — they play a vital role in carbon capture, ecosystem restoration, and biodiversity enhancement. This session explores how science and industry are unlocking the full environmental and economic value of seaweeds, from climate mitigation to circular innovation.

From Carbon Removal to Ecosystem Recovery: How OAE Can Strengthen Marine Ecosystem Recovery.

Lorena Neira, Founder & CEO at Blusink, Blusink Ltd, United Kingdom

Seaweed for Climate: Separating Real Mitigation from Wishful Thinking.

Jean-Baptiste Thomas, Researcher, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden

Coffee Break / Trade Show

Seaweed Elevator Pitches

The Seaweed Elevator Pitches offer a unique, fast-paced, and diverse session where presenters have five minutes to deliver a concise, impactful presentation on their activities and innovative ideas. All topics are possible as long as they deal with seaweeds.