European Commission launches platform to promote algae production

Project to fast-track development of a ‘regenerative, resilient, fair and climate-friendly’ algae industry

The European Commission, the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) and a consortium of sustainability consultants and algae organizations are launching EU4Algae – a European algae stakeholder platform. The goal of the platform is to expedite the development of a European algae industry and promote algae for nutrition and other uses among consumers and businesses in Europe.

Aside from being a nutritious source of food, algae production helps improve ocean health by reducing carbon dioxide, phosphorus and nitrogen in marine ecosystems. It’s also a “nursery and hide-out” for many marine animals, promoting underwater biodiversity.

“In its Farm to Fork strategy, a key component of the European Green Deal, the European Commission stated the goal for algae was to “become an important source of alternative protein for a sustainable food system and global food security,” the European Commission stated in a press release published on the website. “In last year’s strategic guidelines for sustainable aquaculture, the Commission highlighted the role of seaweed cultivation in climate mitigation (through carbon sequestration) as well as climate adaptation (e.g. nature-based coastal protection).”

However, the uptake of algae production and consumption is slow in Europe, compelling the European Commission to step up its game with this platform. The three-year project will accelerate the “scale-up of a regenerative, resilient, fair and climate-friendly algae industry” in Europe as well as bring more novel algae species to the market.

It’s anticipated that the platform will offer a unique space for collaboration among European algae stakeholders, including algae farmers, producers, sellers, consumers, technology developers as well as business-support organizations, investors, public authorities, academia, researchers and NGOs. It will also act as an information hub on algae funding calls, projects, business-related information, intelligence and best practices.

The collaboration platform will be online by summer 2022.

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