Ten international startups will present their seaweed-based food and packaging innovations during the Seaweed Innovation Event on June 8th (World Oceans Day) at Scheveningen Beach, The Netherlands. The pitch event is part of the first edition of North Sea Seaweed, an event organized by the seaweed industry association, North Sea Farmers, says Brave New Food in a press release.
During the Seaweed Innovation Challenge, startups worldwide were able to submit their pitches on the innovation platform of Brave New Food. The organizer, North Sea Farmers, received 30 submissions with a wide range of food and packaging innovations utilizing seaweed. The participants came from 13 different countries, including the Netherlands, Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, Norway, Tanzania, and Mexico.
The North Sea Farmers team, in collaboration with jury members from Amazon, Nestlé, Colruyt Group, DS Smith, and innovation partner Brave New Food, selected ten finalists. Consuming seaweed or using its fibers for packaging is still far from common in this part of the Western world. The finalists are all companies that see the potential of seaweed as food or as an alternative in packaging. These ambitious startups will present their innovative solutions to the jury on June 8th, which could open doors to a larger audience.
The finalists are:
BettaF!sh from Germany creates plant-based tuna made from seaweed. Their goal is to develop more seaweed-based alternatives for all food categories.
B’ZEOS is a Norwegian greentech company that develops innovative packaging solutions. Their products are entirely seaweed-based and biodegradable.
Dutch Seaweed Group produces the first organic wakame salad from the Netherlands. This local product not only has good nutritional values but also contributes to a better climate.
Dutch Weed Burger claims to make the best burger in the world, for the world – made from seaweed. It is 100% plant-based and packed with proteins.
FlexSea from the United Kingdom is a startup that creates seaweed-based packaging solutions. It is 100% edible, allowing for many new packaging possibilities.
Kelpi, also from the United Kingdom, produces high-quality bioplastics based on seaweed. Their packaging is suitable for home composting and decomposes in less than a year.
Oceanium, also from the UK, produces OCEAN INK, a seaweed-based ink. This ink is biodegradable and suitable for packaging and textile applications.
Olijck Foods is a Dutch food company offering two unique brands centered around seaweed: Meat-You-Halfway (hybrid meat) and Sea Veggies (plant-based food products).
Seaweed & Co. produces sustainable seaweed ingredients called PureSea in the United Kingdom. PureSea can be incorporated into a variety of foods and food products.
Seaweed Food Solutions from the Netherlands presents a plant-based spare rib made from seaweed and jackfruit. The innovative snack is said to be “juicy, savory, meaty, and even better than the original.”
Value to the industry
Eef Brouwers, manager and co-founder of North Sea Farmers, expressed enthusiasm for the submissions, stating, “It was fun and exciting to discover 30 new seaweed solutions and connect them to our challenge. I am very impressed by the innovative companies and the wide range of sustainable food and packaging solutions they offer. They have the potential to bring significant value to the industry and the world. Although only 10 startups will pitch as finalists during the event, the other 20 companies are also attracting the attention of our jury and business community. I hope this challenge contributes to making seaweed more and more a part of our daily lives!”
The 10 startups will present to an audience of leading retailers, food companies, investors, and other industry experts. Each startup will have 2 minutes to pitch their idea before answering questions from the jury panel. Eric Klarenbeek, seaweed artist, designer, and entrepreneur at Klarenbeek & Dros and Weedware, will host this private event.
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