The European seaweed industry, a future of new opportunities.

Currently, European seaweed production is close to 300,000 tons (source: FAO) and represents only 1.4% of global production. According to different sources, cultivation in Europe accounts for 1-3% of the total production. 97-99% of the total biomass generated in Europe is extracted from wild populations (Araújo et al. 2021). Out of this production, 50% is mainly directed towards food applications, mainly through obtaining food ingredients, but also for direct consumption.

Behind countries with a greater production tradition such as Norway and France, Spain obtains around 10,000 tons of biomass annually. Seaweed production is concentrated on the northern coast, mainly in Asturias, Galicia, and Cantabria.

The CIRCALGAE project, of which Hispanagar is a part, aims to revitalize the European seaweed industry by seeking new ways to utilize industry waste in the production of new high-value products.