Sustainable seaweed processing in Europe: the Alginor biorefinery
Sustainable seaweed processing in Europe: the Alginor biorefinery
Gabriele Kasparaviciute, Artificial Intelligence Manager, Alginor ASA, Norway
Speaker
21 - 22 June 2023
Trondheim, Norway
Sustainable seaweed processing in Europe: the Alginor biorefinery
Gabriele Kasparaviciute, Artificial Intelligence Manager, Alginor ASA, Norway
About the speaker:
Serving as the Manager of Artificial Intelligence at Alginor ASA, Gabriele demonstrates her prowess in the field of technology and artificial intelligence. Alongside her role at Alginor ASA, she continues to advance the understanding of autonomous underwater robots as a PhD candidate at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim, Norway. Holding a Master's degree in Applied Data Science and Bachelor's degrees in both Software Engineering and Economics, Gabriele applies her extensive education to her professional roles. Her diverse expertise significantly contributes to her fields of interest.
Company info:
Alginor ASA, a marine biotech company based in Norway, specializes in the commercial harvesting and biorefining of Laminaria hyperborea, a brown macroalga native to the North Atlantic. Founded in 2014, Alginor has set its sights on becoming Europe's premier marine resources biorefinery, producing kelp-based ingredients for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food, feed and agricultural applications. The company's commitment to sustainability and scalability is reflected in its methods, aiming for total utilization of the kelp downstream and a desire to be a leading supplier of high-quality kelp-based ingredients globally. Alginor’s choice of Laminaria hyperborea, a self-renewable species thriving in cold and harsh waters, provides unique selling points and a considerable biomass for regulated commercial harvesting.
Presentation:
The presentation will discuss the unique approach of Alginor, a Norwegian marine biotech company, in fully utilizing the brown macroalga, Laminaria hyperborea, to produce refined ingredients used across various market segments. The presenter will underscore their traceable and sustainable value chain, emphasizing the company's abundant access to the raw material along the Norwegian coastline and their pioneering harvesting methods. The expansion plans of Alginor will also be highlighted, including the construction of a new harvesting vessel and the development of a state-of-the-art biorefinery facility. The presentation will wrap up with Alginor's commitment to sustainability, aiming for total downstream utilization, zero emissions, minimal energy consumption, and a low carbon footprint in their operations.