Blue Bio Boost – Boosting seaweed farming through better utilization of genetic resources

Macroalgal biomass has multiple uses and is recognized as a target for increased production in Europe.

In order to boost the growing seaweed industry, it is necessary to better utilise the genetic variation to increase yield, quality and stability of the cultivated crop, which is the main aim of the BlueBioBoost (BBB) project.

BBB will develop a novel macroalgal breeding program involving monitoring of profound genetic changes and applying methods of preventing cultivated macroalgae fromhybridizing with natural populations to keep our precious marine ecosystems healthy while simultaneously laying a basis for the European Blue Economy to sustainably better use genetic resources.

To summarize BBB´s objectives, we aim for the sustainable economic development of the macroalgae industry in Europe by improving the efficiency of propagation and selection of suitable genotypes (Objective 1), by better exploiting genetic variation, while at the same time maintaining local genetic diversity and minimizing the potential for genetic pollution of natural populations (Objective 2), and by actively involving stakeholders in creating a plan for future macroalgae breeding in Europe (Objective 3).

Theinternational and interdisciplinary BBB project covers several European sea basins; the Atlantic Sea, the North Sea, and Skagerrak, and the expected output will impact all coastal areas relevant for macroalgae cultivation in Europe.