Seaweed, a growing crop in Sweden and Europe

The last Thursday in March is the Swedish seaweed season. At this time of year, the seaweed that has been growing under the surface all winter is harvested and the primary seaweed goes on sale.

- "Interest in seaweed is growing, both in Sweden and in the EU," says Cajsa Torell at Kobb, one of the companies investing in putting Swedish seaweed on the market.

Seaweed and algae are expected to play a significant role in the European blue bioeconomy, with production expected to increase from around 80,000 tons today to around 350,000 tons in 2030, when the seaweed sector is expected to have a turnover of over €9 billion.

Seaweed is a sustainable and renewable resource, and can help reduce carbon emissions, improve the marine environment and promote a circular economy. New markets and jobs are made possible as seaweed can be used in a variety of ways, such as food, feed, fuel and materials.

- Seaweed is the raw material of the future and will become a natural part of our diet. At the same time, we will be able to use the fine properties of seaweed in many other ways, for example in hair and skin care products or in various materials," says Cajsa Torell.

More Swedish seaweed entrepreneurs

In recent years, more companies have been growing, picking and harvesting seaweed in Sweden and seaweed is increasingly used as an ingredient in food and in kitchens and restaurants. Here is how some of the West Swedish companies comment on the development that is now taking place.

- With our customers, the seaweed has gained a more permanent place and is continuously served on menus along the west coast and in selected premium restaurants in Sweden," says Cassandra Köbbel from Ten Island Seafarm.

- "We feel that consumers have become more interested in using both farmed and wild-caught seaweed over the past year. We look forward to Swedish seaweed growing and believe there will be more seaweed entrepreneurs, seaweed farmers and more seaweed products on the market in the coming years, says Anna Wångmar at Tångkullan.

- Seaweed farms are now also emerging that will supply the industry. Then we see that there is increased attention from the authorities and the public that was not here before, says Katerina Bengtsson Kupcik at Scandsea.

- "I think that about two years ago we passed the tipping point: there were more of us talking about seaweed, which meant that the seaweed sort of spread by itself when enough people talked about it," says Linnea Sjögren from Catxalot.

- Interest in seaweed in Sweden is growing and growing! New products and more producers are emerging all the time and the industry welcomes newcomers, like us at Koastal, with open arms and with great willingness to cooperate. It feels great to work in this sphere!

The seaweed premiere at the end of March

In Sweden, sugar kelp and sea lettuce are grown commercially. These seaweeds grow wild, but can also be grown on ropes in the sea and by the end of March the first primers are ready to be harvested. For some years now, the very first freshly harvested Swedish seaweed has been sold "sista tossdan i mass", when the first boxes of seaweed go under the hammer at the Gothenburg Fish Auction.