The European seaweed industry, a future of new opportunities
Currently, European seaweed production is close to 300,000 tons (source FAO) and represents only 1.4% of global production. According to different sources, production through cultivation in Europe accounts for between 1-3% of total production. 97-99% of the total biomass generated in Europe is extracted from wild populations (Araújo et al. 2021). Of this production, 50% […]
Currently, European seaweed production is close to 300,000 tons (source FAO) and represents only 1.4% of global production. According to different sources, production through cultivation in Europe accounts for between 1-3% of total production. 97-99% of the total biomass generated in Europe is extracted from wild populations (Araújo et al. 2021). Of this production, 50% has been mainly directed towards food applications, primarily for obtaining food ingredients, but also for direct consumption.
Being behind countries with a greater production tradition such as Norway and France, Spain produces about 10,000 tons of biomass annually. Seaweed production is concentrated on the northern coast, mainly in Asturias, Galicia, and Cantabria.
The CIRCALGAE project, of which Hispanagar is a part, aims to revitalize the European seaweed industry by seeking new ways to utilize the waste from this industry in the production of new high-value products.
