Seaweed conference offers rich programme
This article was featured in Eurofish Magazine 3 2025.
Under the theme Seaweed 2.0 – Today’s Scaling for Tomorrow’s Needs, Seagriculture EU 2025, one of the leading conferences for the seaweed industry, will focus on scaling up and professionalising the seaweed sector to meet the growing global demand for sustainable solutions.
With an emphasis on collaboration across the value chain, the event promises to bring together seaweed farmers, processors and distributors, buyers, equipment providers, researchers, investors, and policymakers to drive synergies and build a resilient, future-proof seaweed industry.
Choice of exclusive site visits
The event opens on 17 June with two exclusive site visits. Participants can choose to visit either Hortimare in Heerhugowaard or the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) in Yerseke. The site visits have limited capacity and places are filling quickly, so early registration is encouraged. More information can be found at www.seagriculture.eu/site-visits-2025/. At Hortimare, visitors will have the opportunity to see their culture collection and cultivation systems, learn about their approach to breeding, and understand how they support farming operations, among other activities.
At NIOZ, the Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems invites visitors to its facilities in Yerseke for a scientific meeting and a guided tour of their seaweed research infrastructure. This visit will be co-organised by the NWO-KIC Aquatic Food production projects CircAqua, SeaSeeds, and From Sea to Society.
The main conference programme runs from 18 to 19 June and features a dynamic, international lineup. Across five plenary sessions, two panel discussions, and a series of Seaweed Elevator Pitches, the programme will address key themes and innovations across the seaweed sector. Researchers will also present posters, offering opportunities for academic dialogue and exchange. Confirmed speakers include some of the most respected voices in the industry. Alan T. Critchley, Research Fellow at the Verschuren Centre, Dr Stefan Kraan, CSO of Oceana Organic Products, Rita Sousa, Partner at Faber, Pierre Paslier, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Notpla, and Juliet Brodie, Merit Researcher at the Natural History Museum, will all share their insights. They will be joined by representatives from leading organisations including TotalEnergies Corbion, Rabobank, Necton, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The full conference programme is available at www.seagriculture.eu/conference-program-2025/.
Trade show to highlight seaweed-related products and services
In parallel with the conference, the trade show will provide a platform for seaweed-focused businesses to showcase their products and services and to foster new partnerships. Networking events, including a conference dinner, will further encourage connection and collaboration among participants. As exclusive event sponsors, the Province of South Holland and the Municipality of Rotterdam are supporting Seagriculture EU 2025 to foster innovation and collaboration across the seaweed industry. Meindert Stolk, Regional Minister for Regional Economy and Innovation, Environmental Quality and Enforcement, and Culture and Heritage at the Province of South Holland, underlined the region’s potential as a hub for sustainable solutions. He called South Holland a place where innovation and diversity come together—from cutting-edge research to strong industrial and agricultural sectors. Seaweed offers enormous potential in the transition to a circular and sustainable economy. Hosting Seagriculture EU 2025 in our region reflects our commitment to supporting blue innovation and building strong, future-proof industries, he added.
This strong regional foundation makes South Holland an ideal host for this global gathering of seaweed leaders and changemakers. With more than 170 delegates already registered Seagriculture EU 2025 is shaping up to be a major meeting point for the international seaweed community. Over 250 delegates from more than 30 countries are expected to attend. The event is designed to connect stakeholders, facilitate knowledge exchange, and help shape the future of the global seaweed industry. Registration is open at www.seagriculture.eu.
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