About the project

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. The current macroalgae cultivation practice in Europe starts every year from new seeding material, obtained directly from local natural populations. There is no selection of the most suitable genotypes, and no storage of seeding material. Hence, no genetic progress in terms of yield and quality is obtained in the cultivated material over time. This is in sharp contrast to virtually all land-based crop production, animal husbandry and fish aquaculture, where domestication has led to selection of genetic material with cumulative improvement of desired traits.

There is, however, concern about the potential spread and mixing of domesticated macroalgae with natural populations (introgression), and the ecological consequences this may have, including erosion of the present natural genetic diversity. Blue Bio Boost will investigate two options to avoid impact on natural populations; (1) a “mix-to-match" approach where we cultivate mixtures of superior material with allele frequencies similar to those of the local natural populations, thus attempting to circumvent the problem of introgression, and (2) techniques that could facilitate breeding of improved genotypes and production of sterile sporophytes in the future.

A broad and representative Stakeholder Engagement Group (SEG) will be established and function both in co-design of a strategy for the future European breeding of macroalgae focusing on economic and ecological objectives, and as a channel for dissemination activities.

Objectives

The primary aim of Blue Bio Boost is to support sustainable economic development of the macroalgae industry

Objective 1: Improve the efficiency of propagation and selection of suitable genotypes, and explore options to use ploidy and parthenogenesis in breeding

Objective 2: Develop sustainable breeding methods utilising mixtures of superior crosses

Objective 3: A strategy for the future of European macroalgae breeding: optimizing cultivation through genetic improvements and mitigating environmental risks within the context of the EU regulatory framework

Link to external project page:
Biomass improvement project through better utilisation of genetic resources for kelp and Ulva in the European Seaweed Industry (bluebioboost.eu)

Lenke til prosjektside i Cristin: https://app.cristin.no/projects/show.jsf?id=2714609

Participants

External participants

From Norway
Sintef Ocean
Seaweed Solutions

From Sweden:
Gӧteborgs universitet
Nordic Seafarm

From Belgium
Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO)

From Irland:
Irish Seaweed Consultancy Marine Institute