EOM - Macroalgae cultures for food

Macroalgae rightly have a good reputation as a superfood: they provide a high nutrient content, are good sources of iodine and are rich in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids and fibre.

In the EOM transfer project, a new carrier material with a special surface structure is to be developed to promote the growth of seaweed and thus enable targeted cultivation. The conventional use of nets or lines for algae cultivation, which are laid out manually near the coast, is labour-intensive and uneconomical. The aim of the project is therefore to enable resource-conserving and controlled cultivation of macroalgae to LKand and water using biogenic surfaces, similar to the concept of vertical farming and urban gardening. Only natural materials that offer a high colonisation rate for juvenile algae will be used to ensure rapid attachment.

Studies on seasonal environmental influences on the ingredients of the algae will also be integrated. These studies lay the foundation for the economically viable production of macroalgae, which does not yet exist in Europe. These transfer results aim to make macroalgae imports from Asia unnecessary.

Macroalgae as a resource for the future

Macroalgae are true multitalents: They provide valuable ingredients such as omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, dietary fibers and iodine, and with an extremely low ecological footprint. While they are already firmly part of the diet in Asia, cultivation in Europe is still in its beginnings. The EOM project wants to change that.

A new approach for cultivation

So far, macroalgae are usually introduced into the sea manually with nets or lines, a process that is expensive and labor-intensive. EOM is developing a new carrier material with a biogenic surface that specifically promotes the attachment of algae. The aim is controlled, resource-saving cultivation on land and in the sea, similar to the principle of vertical farming.

From the surface to the food product

In addition to the actual cultivation, the project also researches the processing and use of algae biomass. The focus is on innovative methods for value-preserving extraction of ingredients, through chemical, thermal, mechanical and fermentative processes. The extracts obtained are to flow into the development of food products that could in the future offer an alternative to algae imports from Asia.

Economic potentials in view

The new technology can not only be transferred to the food industry, but also to downstream areas such as biotechnology, plant engineering and aquaculture. In the long term, a business model is being sought that is based on regional macroalgae production and functions independently of global supply chains.

Scientific basis, implemented close to practice

Since the project start in June 2024, first analyses of suitable materials and possible digestion processes have been carried out. The combination of technical development and nature-based approach creates the foundation for economically viable algae production “made in Germany”.

A project in the Blue Bioeconomy innovation space (BaMS)

Project management: Claudia Busse-Uhrig

E-mail: info@viva-maris.de

Project partners:

Viva Maris GmbH

Schierbecker Handels GmbH & Co. KG