This article was featured in Eurofish Magazine 5 2026.
AlgaEurope 2026 will take place from 8 to 11 December at the Hilton Malta, bringing together researchers, industry representatives, technology providers, policymakers and other stakeholders from across the international algae sector.
Organised by the European Algae Biomass Association (EABA) and DLG Markets Benelux, AlgaEurope has developed into one of the leading international meeting places dedicated to algae biomass. The conference combines science, technology and business and is expected to welcome more than 400 participants from over 45 countries to Malta. The four-day event will provide a platform to exchange the latest knowledge and developments in both microalgae and seaweed. The programme covers the complete algae value chain, ranging from cultivation technologies, photobioreactors and offshore production to biorefining, food and feed applications, high-value products, biotechnology, sustainability and commercialisation.
Europe remains a small producer in a global market
Algae are already a major aquaculture crop globally, but production is concentrated overwhelmingly in Asia. FAO recorded 39 million tonnes of farmed algae in 2024, of which China produced 24 million tonnes. EUMOFA, using FAO data, reported EU-27 catches of wild seaweed at 93,774 tonnes in 2022, compared with just 1,019 tonnes of farmed algae. Wild harvesting therefore accounted for about 99% of recorded EU algae production, with France and Ireland together responsible for 94% of EU seaweed catches. The EU is nevertheless an important algae market. In 2023, extra-EU imports of seaweed and other algae reached 141,660 tonnes worth EUR 124.4 million, according to EUMOFA, while exports totalled 48,174 tonnes worth EUR 37.6 million. Material for further industrial processing accounted for 93% of import volume, with Iceland and Norway the main suppliers by volume. The figures suggest that European demand already exceeds the capacity of domestic production.
Microalgae are usually cultivated on land in ponds, photobioreactors or fermenters, and are often directed towards higher-value applications such as food and supplements, aquafeeds, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, fertilisers and plant biostimulants. In aquaculture, microalgae are well established as hatchery feeds for bivalves and in feeding systems for fish and crustacean larvae. Commercial products also include omega-3 oils and pigments such as astaxanthin.
International experts take the stage
At AlgaEurope several internationally recognised scientists have already been confirmed as keynote speakers. Carlos Duarte of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (Saudi Arabia) will address the multiple roles and opportunities of seaweed farming, while Jang K. Kim of Incheon National University (South Korea) will focus on innovations for building climate-resilient seaweed aquaculture in a warming ocean. Fayza Daboussi of INRAE-TIBH in France will explore the potential of advanced genetic engineering for microalgae, while Laurent Picot of La Rochelle University will discuss emerging and unexpected applications of microalgae. In addition, Hans Verhagen, Food Safety & Nutrition Consultancy, the Netherlands, will join AlgaEurope as a special guest to address the regulatory landscape for alternative proteins and precision fermentation novel foods in the EU and UK.
The final scientific programme will largely be shaped by the algae community itself. AlgaEurope follows a bottom-up approach in which submitted scientific and innovation abstracts are independently evaluated before being selected for oral or poster presentations. Interest in the 2026 edition is already strong, with 213 abstracts received to date from researchers and industry experts wishing to contribute to the programme. In response to continued demand, the abstract submission deadline has been extended to 30 September, giving the international algae community a final opportunity to contribute to the programme.
China becomes AlgaEurope’s first partner country
A new feature for 2026 is the introduction of the AlgaEurope partner country programme, designed to strengthen international cooperation between Europe and important algae-producing countries. China has been selected as the inaugural partner country, with the China Algae Industry Association serving as the official partner. As the world’s largest producer of algae biomass and home to an extensive seaweed and microalgae industry, China is expected to bring an important additional international dimension to the conference. The initiative reflects the increasingly global nature of the algae sector and AlgaEurope’s aim to connect European research and industry with leading algae regions worldwide.
A closer look at aquaculture innovation in Malta
The conference will conclude on Friday, 11 December, followed by an optional site visit to AquaBioTech Group. Participants will visit the company’s headquarters and research facilities in Malta, where the company works on aquaculture research, testing and engineering. The visit will offer insight into areas including fish health and nutrition, Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) and Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA), demonstrating how algae can form part of broader developments in sustainable aquaculture. With Malta’s position at the heart of the Mediterranean, the 2026 edition also provides an appropriate setting for discussions about the future of marine biotechnology, aquaculture and the blue bioeconomy.
