Danish NGO Havhøst has been awarded just over DKK 1 million to investigate the commercial possibilities of seaweed cultivation.
According to Havhost founder Joachim Hjerl, seaweed is a resource that can be used for countless purposes in the food industry, and while it is grows, seaweed is the perfect habitat for small fish.
Havhøst has received support from EMFAF, together with the Association for Sustainable Coastal Fishing, Dansk Tang and Fiskerikajen, to assess the economic and commercial basis for ‘sea pastures.’
‘The sea pastures we want to establish are two hectares, areas of 100 x 200 meters out at sea. These consist of buoys that lie next to each other, and lines are strung out between the buoys. The entire construction is then anchored to the seabed with anchors,’ says Joachim Hjerl explained.
These are to be located in the Nekselø Bay at Havnsø and in the Korsør area.
Seaweed grows on the lines, which Joachim Hjerl and his colleagues get from a hatchery that cultivates the seaweed plants. The small kelp plants are attached to thin cords, which are wrapped around the lines out on the sea pasture during the autumn. After this, the seaweed plants begin to grow.
During the spring, the seaweed is ready to be harvested and used for all kinds of purposes in the food industry. According to Joachim Hjerl, the possibilities for selling seaweed are incredibly diverse.
‘One of the pioneers from the industry in the USA first thought that seaweed was the new cabbage. That it should have a place like cabbage in our food consumption. But now he has come to believe that seaweed is the new soy. That it’s an ingredient that will be everywhere – and included in all kinds of products,’ he said.
The purpose of the project is to provide concrete experience with commercial seaweed cultivation in Denmark. And to get even more people started with commercial seaweed production.
Joachim Hjerl and his partners have two years to gain their experience in relation to opportunities and challenges in running a commercial seaweed farm. And as an added bonus, they can hopefully get more people interested in growing seaweed commercially.
‘Hopefully, this project can kick-start a value chain and some companies that can make money from seaweed cultivation. If there’s no-one making money from the green transition, it will not happen,’ he said.
