Aim: scale up of a Hatchery Innovation Center for high commercial value seaweed species & compounds.
Leader: Irish Seaweed Consultancy
Contributors: NIOZ
Irish Seaweed Consultancy (ISC) Ltd. is a female-led company based in the West of Ireland since 2013. We formed the company to use our scientific knowledge of seaweed to help the European seaweed industry develop and grow. We work at the interface between research and industry, taking part in national and EU projects focused on sustainable seaweed cultivation, wild resource management, and Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA).
Under the I3-4-SEAWEED project, Irish Seaweed Consultancy is creating a Hatchery Innovation Center in County Galway, supported by NIOZ – Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research. This new center focuses on growing high-value seaweed species and extracting natural compounds like pigments, which are in high demand for food, health, and cosmetic products. The goal is to develop sustainable methods that reduce the use of synthetic ingredients and support the growing blue bioeconomy.
The center will offer specialized hatchery services, such as ready-to-deploy seaweed materials and customized cultures collected from local seaweed populations. It will also house a commercial biobank and provide space for small companies to test new seaweed-based products and ideas, helping them avoid high setup costs. By combining science, sustainability, and business support, the Hatchery Innovation Center will strengthen seaweed innovation, boost local job creation, and encourage eco-friendly aquaculture models that can be used in other coastal areas.