"We’re focused on ensuring we can feed a growing population, reversing biodiversity loss, and facilitating adaptation, and we see investment in the seaweed industry as one means to help us achieve these goals," Paul Dobbins of WWF US told WeAreAquaculture.
Photo: Seagriculture USA / Heather Kiesel.
Seagriculture USA 2024 came to a successful close on Thursday last week, having brought together two hundred participants from 10 countries under the theme of "Exploring New Frontiers".
The event, held 11-12 September in Ketchikan, Alaska, saw participation from 121 companies and institutions, and featured a comprehensive program of talks, discussions, and networking. This year's edition also included Seaweed Elevator Pitch sessions, a dynamic format that allowed rapid exploration of a broad range of seaweed industry projects.
With nearly 50 speakers, including experts from organizations like the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Cargill, EY, the World Bank Group, WWF, and Hatch Blue, attendees gained valuable insights on topics ranging from seaweed farming innovations to regulatory frameworks.
A leading focus of this year's conference was the growth of the seaweed industry in Alaska - whose governor Mike Dunleavy has said he wants to make the "mariculture capital of the world" - and the outlook within the USA as a whole. The conference included the launch of a Congressional Report on seaweed by Bigelow Laboratory Ocean Sciences, underscoring the rising importance of the industry within the USA at the national policy level.
Discussions also delved into investment opportunities, marketing strategies, and the global outlook for the industry, with input from expert speakers including Paul Dobbins, WWF US's Vice President of Impact Investing and Ecosystems Services, Aquaculture.
"Any budding industry can’t succeed without proper investment," Dobbins told WeAreAquaculture. "Through grants and equity investments, our mission is to invest, so the world changes faster. We’re focused on ensuring we can feed a growing population, reversing biodiversity loss, and facilitating adaptation, and we see investment in the seaweed industry as one means to help us achieve these goals."
Seagriculture participants mingle at the Alaskan Lumberjack Show.
Shifting the focus from the big picture to the realities of individual farming businesses, a special session titled "Ask a Kelp Farmer," supported by Greenwave, provided direct engagement with seaweed farmers.
"Seagriculture USA 2024 has been a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation within the seaweed industry. The enthusiasm and insights shared reaffirm our belief in the potential of the seaweed industry to address global challenges," said Kuno Jacobs, Managing Director of DLG Benelux, the event’s organizer, in a press release.
Running alongside the conference, Seagriculture also featured a trade show hosting twelve exhibitors showcasing their latest seaweed industry technologies and equipment.
With the aim of enhancing participant engagement, the event included several innovative networking formats, such as a pre-conference happy hour hosted by Blue Robotics and an authentic Alaskan get-together at the Lumberjack Show after the first day.
The conference concluded with a Soiree at the Salmon Falls Resort, allowing attendees to reflect on key discussions and deepen connections with peers, business leaders, and local entrepreneurs.
The next Seagriculture events are set for 2025, with Seagriculture Asia-Pacific in Adelaide, Australia, from March 18 to 20, and Seagriculture EU in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, from June 17 to 19.
WeAreAquaculture is a media partner of Seagriculture USA.