European Seaweed Association

European Seaweed Association

Seaweed can play a crucial role in addressing global challenges, including sustainability, food security, health, and employment. That is why the European Seaweed Association is working to create an attractive and future-proof seaweed sector. The European Seaweed Association is a non-profit trade association that represents the interests of the European seaweed industry.

With initiatives such as the first commercial seaweed farm among offshore wind turbines and the annual North Sea Seaweed event, the European Seaweed Association is taking concrete steps to grow and develop the industry.

Blissful ignorance as a driving force

The European Seaweed Association, formerly known as North Sea Farmers, was founded in 2014 by the ‘Stichting Noordzee Boerderij’. Co-founder Eef Brouwers explains: “The idea arose from a combination of a passion for sustainable solutions and experience in offshore projects. Blissful ignorance was our driving force: because if you don’t try, you’ll never succeed.”

The motivation to make a positive impact still forms the foundation of the organisation and its activities. “Less than 3% of seawater is fresh. The rest is salt water, but we do very little with it. It’s therefore time we started doing something with it,” says Eef. “We constantly need raw materials, and it’s obviously a great idea that you can simply produce them at sea by cultivating seaweed on a large scale.”

Building a new seaweed industry

The foundation focuses on three core activities: representing the interests of the seaweed sector to policymakers and other stakeholders, supporting and providing information to members, and building a network within the seaweed industry. Eef explains: “We do much more than just talk. We also demonstrate that it is possible. For example, with the first commercial seaweed farm in an offshore wind farm, off the coast of Scheveningen.”

In addition, the European Seaweed Association organises the annual North Sea Seaweed event, a marketplace for the seaweed industry and end customers. The event brings together supply and demand, and shows the possible applications of seaweed in food, textiles and cosmetics, among other things.

In 2025, at North Sea Seaweed (28 October) and also at ImpactFest (30 October), visitors of the events could enter the Seaweed Hotel Room, where seaweed is used in everyday products. It was incorporated into the bed, the furniture, the carpet and the bedding, but the room also offered seaweed-based body care products, as well as chocolate, tea and beer made with seaweed.

Grand ambitions at sea

As the European Seaweed Association is a trade association, all milestones in the entire industry are important to them. The network of 130 paying members strengthens cooperation and knowledge sharing within the sector. Eef is also pleased with the testing ground at sea off the coast of The Hague: “Europe’s largest offshore test site is located right here in The Hague, 20 minutes from the coast. There is virtually nowhere else in the world where you can showcase innovations at sea so effectively. The test area is not only for innovations in seaweed production, but also for generating sustainable energy and nature restoration.”

Another highlight for Eef was the Vattenfall commercial featuring Samuel L. Jackson, which promotes seaweed. The Notpla seaweed packaging being tested at Ikea in London is another good example of a growing seaweed sector. “These initiatives show that seaweed is more than just an idea; it is actually being applied in the market,” says Eef.

The Hague as a testing ground for sustainable growth

The Hague is a strategic location for the European Seaweed Association. Its proximity to offshore wind farms makes it possible to organise demonstrations and tours lasting 20–45 minutes by boat, which is unique internationally. The ecosystem in and around The Hague, with support from ImpactCity and the municipality of The Hague, offers both substantive and financial support. “The Hague determined our origins by chance, but the city has proven to be an ideal showcase for innovations at sea and sustainable seaweed projects,” explains Eef.

Seaweed as the green raw material of the future

By 2035, the European Seaweed Association envisions a fully-fledged, economically viable European seaweed industry. Seaweed is increasingly replacing traditional and less sustainable raw materials, such as plastic and artificial fertilisers. Thanks to economies of scale and production subsidies, local production is becoming profitable and affordable for the market. “Seaweed can contribute to sustainability, health and employment. Our ambition is for the European industry to scale up and show what is possible at sea,” concludes Eef.