Panellists at last year's Seagriculture EU conference, held in the Faroe Islands.
Photo: Seagriculture EU.
The Seagriculture EU 2025 conference, a major annual international event for the seaweed industry, returns for its 14th year, this time taking place in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, from 17 to 19 June.
With the overall theme of "Seaweed 2.0: Today’s Scaling for Tomorrow’s Needs," the conference will focus on "expanding and professionalising the seaweed sector to meet the rising global demand for sustainable solutions".
The event promises to bring together a wide range of seaweed industry stakeholders, including seaweed farmers, processors, buyers, researchers, investors, policymakers, and equipment providers.
Seagriculture organisers DLG Benelux said they expect over 250 delegates from more than 30 countries to attend, building on strong early registration figures, with 170 participants already registered.
The event kicks off on 17 June with two site visit options, where delegates may visit either Hortimare in Heerhugowaard to learn about breeding and farming operations, or the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) in Yerseke, where participants can attend a scientific meeting and tour seaweed research facilities.
The main conference programme will then run over two days, from 18 to 19 June, featuring five plenary sessions, two panel discussions, and a series of Seaweed Elevator Pitches. Researchers will also present posters throughout the event to encourage academic exchange, while the event's trade show component will offer companies the opportunity to showcase products and services tailored to the seaweed industry. The event will also feature networking opportunities, including a conference dinner.
Confirmed speakers include leading figures such as Alan T. Critchley, Research Fellow at the Verschuren Centre; Dr. Stefan Kraan, Chief Scientific Officer of Oceana Organic Products; Rita Sousa, Partner at Faber; and Pierre Paslier, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Notpla.
The conference will also feature contributions from organizations such as TotalEnergies Corbion, Rabobank, Necton, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
Seagriculture EU 2025 is supported by the Province of South Holland and the Municipality of Rotterdam. In a statement supporting the conference, Meindert Stolk, Regional Minister for South Holland, emphasised the region’s role in "blue innovation", saying ""South Holland is 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," Stolk added.
More information about the programme, site visits, and registration is available at www.seagriculture.eu.
