A consortium led by the University of Copenhagen, in collaboration with Aarhus University and several industry partners, embarks on a pioneering four-year project named SeaFree. This initiative is designed to advance a closed, eco-friendly cycle on land, leveraging residual nutrients and CO2 from shrimp and fish farming to cultivate seaweed for applications in the food and healthcare sectors.
Professor Marianne Thomsen from the University of Copenhagen’s Department of Food Science emphasized the project’s core objective in a recent press release. SeaFree aims to harness seaweed production as a means to absorb and convert emissions from land-based aquaculture into a valuable product. The harvested seaweed will be utilized for dietary supplements, with potential applications in preventing diabetes and innovating sustainable food products. Beyond mitigating emissions, the seaweed produced is not only environmentally friendly but also rich in umami flavor.
The project kicks off with a container setup utilizing Plug’n’Play technology, featuring eight 1,000-liter tanks within a 40ft container. This innovative system, combining saltwater, CO2, nutrients, and LED lights, can generate a full batch of seaweed in just one week, showcasing promising export potential. Thomsen highlighted that SeaFree integrates cutting-edge recycling technology for land-based shrimp and fish farming. Beyond emission capture, the system recirculates surplus heat from the plants to the Plug’n’Play technology. Additionally, the project introduces a novel technology to use surplus heat for drying seaweed, which is then supplied to the healthcare industry.
The end product encompasses climate-friendly fish, shrimp, and sea lettuce—a nutritious, fiber- and protein-rich seaweed variety. Sea lettuce, in particular, serves a dual purpose as both a dietary supplement and an edible accompaniment to seafood.
Professor Thomsen envisions significant global impact if this method is adopted universally by land-based shrimp and fish farms. The SeaFree project, funded with DKK14.4 million (€1.9 million) by Innovation Fund Denmark, has garnered collaboration from industry partners including Pure Algae, DryingMate, Food Diagnostics, Sigrid Therapeutics, XOventure GmbH/Rigi Care, KOST, SOF Odden Caviar, and HanseGarnelen.