Funded Projects 2014-2020
Project SW-GROW
| Project Acronym | SW-GROW |
|---|---|
| Project Title | Innovations for Seaweed Producers in the Northern Periphery Area |
| Project subsite |
Summary
The objective of the project is to increase economic opportunities in the seaweed industry by developing innovative working practices that can be widely adopted by the many SMEs involved in this project in the NPA region to develop quality seaweed products of consistent standard that are identifiable and can be clearly branded.
The project will identify common issues throughout the Region and give access to high-level R&D links within academic partners across regional and national borders to pilot solutions that can be adopted throughout the industry - thus developing solutions that enable technology transfer across the Programme area - in particular benefiting SMEs. This will result in higher levels of innovation and competitiveness in remote and sparsely populated areas by transfer and development of models and solutions that facilitate technology transfer to, and across, the Programme area.
The expertise in the consortium partners will be used to ensure:
- Seaweed extraction is sustainable with a good balance between wild harvesting and cultivation
- Waste is reduced through the utilisation of seaweed from net cleaning and other processes, and extracting the most product from the seaweed used
- Energy usage is reduced by effective drying methods and the use of renewable energy
The combination of seaweed from clean Atlantic water and environmentally responsible processing will result in a high quality product that can be characterised and labelled through chemical analysis to ensure the product conforms to regulations. DNA sequencing will be used to build up a database that will identify where the seaweed has come from.
Because the seaweed source is identifiable, a strong brand can be built around the product. This will benefit all SMEs in the NPA area who work towards the quality standards. The branding will also draw on cultural and historical information.
Objectives
Quality Improvement
This will improve seaweed products so that a quality brand can be developed that will allow SMEs in the NPA region to compete with competitors in the Far East.
Characterisation and Branding
Undertaking DNA and other tests will give evidence to buyers that the seaweed product is of high quality.
Piloting and Evaluation
This will enable Partners and SMEs to pilot existing applications to demonstrate novel techniques in cultivation, reduced waste and renewable energy in the industry. Knowledge exchange across the region will promote new techniques and technologies.
Lead Partner
- Lews Castle College UHI
Scotland
Andrew MacKenzie
Partners
- An Lanntair
Scotland - Arctic Technology Centre – Technical University of Denmark
Greenland - Lews Castle College UHI
Scotland - National University of Ireland Galway
Ireland - Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Sweden - TARI - Faroe Seaweed
Faroe Islands - University of Iceland
Iceland - Western Isles Marine and Environmental Ltd
Scotland - Údarás na Gaeltachta
Ireland
Project Info
| Theme Business development, trade, marketing |
| Priority 1 Innovation |
| Objective 1.1 Increased innovation and transfer of R&D |
| Project duration 30-04-19 to 29-04-22 |
| Total budget 1 839 340 EUR |
| NPA co-financing 1 143 539 EUR |
| Target groups interest groups including NGOs enterprise, including SME national public authority |
| Joint Secretariat Desk Officer Kalle Pakalèn |