A new Norwegian bioeconomy based on cultivation and processing of seaweeds: Opportunities and R&D needs

Cultivation of macroalgae at the lowest trophic level, using only sunlight and nutrients from the sea while taking up CO2, will have a neutral carbon footprint and the biomass will contribute significantly to meet the demand for food, feed, materials, chemicals, fuels and pharmaceuticals in near future. Through a new bioeconomy based on cultivated macroalgae Norway will establish a future feedstock bypassing the competition with landbased agricultural resources and at the same time contribute to the replacement of fossil resources. This blue bioeconomy will strenghten Norway's role as the leading seafood nation as well as a leading supplier of marine, sustainable biomass. In order to boost a new bioeconomy based on cultivated macroalgae, three priority areas must be focused:

• Biomass production technology

• Biorefinery prosesses

• Marked and product development