Speaker

About the speaker: 

Nitzan Unger is the Senior Project Manager at Hatch Blue Consulting, part of the Hatch Blue group. He is dedicated to developing and expanding seaweed projects according to Hatch's aspiration to grow and drive the seaweed industry further as a significant factor in pushing the Blue-Green Circle Economy to the next level.  Climbing up from the production floor to managing complex international projects, Nitzan has gained a holistic perspective over the entire aquaculture value chain and specializes in streamlining production processes, implementing new emerging technologies, and developing advanced protocols for better sustainable practices. After completing his bachelor's in Marine Biotechnology, Nitzan joined the biggest aquaculture company in Israel, gaining extensive hands-on experience throughout the entire seafood supply chain. During his work and a part of his master's research, Nitzan tackled the topic of the aquaculture & fisheries pollution of the marine environment and implemented his conclusions at his company. Nitzan furthered his skills by consulting international companies and startups in the aquaculture and agriculture sectors. Together with Hatch's partners and business clients, Nitzan's team focuses its efforts on identifying the current major bottlenecks in the industry. Using their expertise and widespread information from the Global Seaweed Markets Report, Hatch Innovation Services aims to make this knowledge useful, accessible, and scalable.

Company info:

Hatch Blue is a global venture and advisory company dedicated to supporting sustainable aquaculture innovation and development. They are located in Norway, Singapore, and Hawaii. Hatch Blue is a knowledge-based, privately owned company that encourages forward thinking and increases investment and knowledge sharing in the global aquaculture industry. 

Hatch Blue Consulting (HBC) functions as Hatch's highly specialized aquaculture advisory arm, providing deep market insights and supporting innovation and technology across the entire aquaculture value chain. As authors of the ‘Global Seaweed Market Report’, commissioned by the World Bank Group, and seaweedinsights.com, HBC provides valuable knowledge on both supply and demand markets for the seaweed industry through a combination of extensive in-field surveys in major seaweed producing regions, market research on seaweed applications, and assessments of the ecosystem services seaweed can provide.

Presentation:

The Alaska Mariculture Insights Project is an important initiative focused on promoting and growing Alaska's mariculture sector, particularly seaweed farming. Launched by the Alaska Mariculture Cluster (AMC) and funded through the Build Back Better Regional Challenge, this platform, created by Hatch Blue, aims to offer crucial insights and data for industry stakeholders.

Utilizing a combination of extensive primary and secondary research, including interviews with key industry players, the project offers a thorough analysis of current technologies and practices in seaweed production. A 16-day field study, including over 25 site visits to key areas like Ketchikan, Juneau, and Kodiak, allowed the team to engage with inspiring farmers and observe innovative technologies in seaweed hatcheries, grow-out sites, and processing facilities. The platform breaks down production insights across various stages of the supply chain, aiming to benefit a wide array of stakeholders, including private investors and government agencies focused on creating jobs through sustainable aquaculture, by providing valuable insights into the industry's significant potential for growth.

The presentation will highlight the platform’s unique capabilities, including newly created interactive dashboards featuring Alaska's production landscape and key partners and stakeholders across the value chain, providing a never-before-seen overview of its seaweed industry.