"Building a seaweed industry takes time," says Christer Olausson, CEO of Nordic SeaFarm.
Photo: Nordic SeaFarm
Nordic SeaFarm counts as one of the European seaweed industry's early success stories. Founded in 2016, what began as an innovative research project led by a team of seaweed specialists from the University of Gothenburg has since grown into a commercial seaweed producer recognized for its research, successful projects and for delivering high-quality seaweed for food, feed, and industrial applications.
The Swedish seaweed farming company is soon to welcome international delegates attending the Seagriculture EU conference in Gothenburg from 16-18 June 2026, hosting a site visit to its large-scale offshore farm cultivating sugar kelp, winged kelp and sea lettuce, its hatchery and processing facilities, and the University of Gothenburg's Tjärnö Marine Laboratory.
WeAreAquaculture caught up with Nordic SeaFarm CEO Christer Olausson, who will also give an opening presentation at the event, to find out more about his company's participation, the realities of farming seaweed in Europe, and Nordic SeaFarm's plans for the coming years.
Harvesting kelp.
Why should industry stakeholders make time for this year’s Seagriculture conference?
Seagriculture is one of the few places where a large part of the seaweed industry comes together. It’s a great opportunity to have conversations, learn from each other, and build relationships across the value chain. The industry is still young, and events like this are important to accelerate progress in a very practical way.
Nordic SeaFarm will be hosting a site visit as part of the upcoming conference. What do you hope participants will take away from seeing your seaweed farming operations first-hand?
I hope participants leave with a clearer understanding of what we at Nordic SeaFarm are building — a stable, long-term B2B seaweed ingredient company.
We’re also very happy that the visit includes Tjärnö Marine Laboratory, where Nordic SeaFarm was once founded. It’s a world-renowned research facility and an important part of our story.
At the same time, we want to show the reality of commercial seaweed farming in Europe. It is possible, but there is still a lot to improve. Over the past year especially, we’ve faced real challenges at our farming sites, and those experiences have taught us a lot about what it actually takes to build this industry.
Sea lettuce (Ulva sp.) is one of the seawed species farmed by the company.
Can you share a preview of the key message you plan to deliver in your opening presentation?
One key message is that building a seaweed industry takes time. Over the past 10 years, we have tested many ideas, changed direction, and learned a lot along the way.
Today, we feel that the foundation is finally in place to start scaling in a more focused and realistic way.
From your perspective as a seaweed farming company CEO, what are the biggest opportunities for the European seaweed sector?
The biggest opportunity is that more industries are now seriously looking for sustainable raw materials and new ingredients.
Seaweed can play a role across food, materials, and agriculture. Europe also has strong research, good environmental conditions, and growing public interest — which together create a solid foundation for long-term growth.
Nordic SeaFarm's seaweed farming site in the Grebbestad archipelago.
Why do events like Seagriculture EU matter for the development of the global seaweed industry?
The industry is still small enough that collaboration really matters. Seagriculture connects people who might not otherwise meet — farmers, researchers, brands, investors, and policymakers.
That exchange of knowledge is critical if we want to avoid repeating mistakes and move the industry forward together.
What do you think needs to happen next for seaweed farming to scale commercially and sustainably?
We need more long-term thinking across the board.
Companies need access to patient capital. Policymakers need to create clearer frameworks and permitting processes. And as an industry, we need to stay realistic about timelines and costs.
At the same time, we need stronger end-markets so farmers can build stable businesses over time.
What are your company’s current priorities, and what role do you hope to play in the sector’s future?
Right now, our focus is on scaling production in a way that is both efficient and reliable, while continuing to strengthen our commercial focus and build partnerships where seaweed creates real value.
Looking ahead, I hope we can contribute by sharing what we’ve learned and by showing that it is possible to build this industry step by step over the long term.
Seagriculture EU takes place in Gothenburg, Sweden, from 16-18 June 2026.
The site visit includes a boat tour to Nordic SeaFarm’s cultivation site in the Grebbestad archipelago, a visit to the company’s hatchery and processing facilities in Strömstad, and a stop at Tjärnö Marine Laboratory to gain insights on current seaweed research from the University of Gothenburg’s Department of Marine Sciences. More details are available via the Seagriculture website.
WeAreAquaculture is a media partner of Seagriculture EU 2026.