Marine seaweeds are a highly underutilized resource in the Nordic region with great potential. Seaweeds are known to contain unique compounds that can find many uses in consumer products. The Nordic countries have a unique position to create significant value from its very abundant seaweed resources. Previous research has demonstrated that the seaweed species bladderwrack (Fucus vesiculosus) contains extremely bioactive antioxidants, more than any other seaweed researched. Bladderwrack was therefore the focus of this project.
The overall objective of the project was to create new high value ingredients and products from a highly underutilized Nordic resource, marine seaweeds. The projectperiod was from January 2012 to December 2014.
The specific objectives were:
a. Development of extraction, fractionation and concentration techniques to producehigh value bioactive ingredients from marine seaweeds (bladderwrack)
b. Characterize and define the bioactivity and properties of the extracted ingredients
c. Develop and produce new products containing the bioactive marine seaweed basedingredients with active participation of target consumers and users
d. Investigate the market for the ingredients and products and establish a marketingand sales plan
e. Scale-up production processes to produce bioactive marine seaweed basedingredient on a large scale
This project was funded under the Nordic Marine Innovation Program 2.0.