ERA-NET: (FORSTERK) Quality assessments and preservation of cultivated seaweed (QualiSea_Diss)

The aim of the QuliaSea_Diss project is to expand the dissemination of results from the ERA BlueBio project "QualiSea" (Enhancing and controlling the quality of cultivated seaweeds for large-scale production and a sustainable supply chain to food and feed markets). One of the aims of QualiSea is to develop cost- and energy efficient preservation methods for the biomass, and to reveal factors that affect the stability and quality of fresh biomass, which also are important for the choice of preservation method. Linked to this, methods and instrumentation for estimation of the composition and quality of the biomass at the harvesting site, during transport, and at arrival of the processing facility, are assessed as basis for decisions about the application of the biomass. The challenges that the project aims to solve, have the recent years become even more urgent, particularly the need for more cost-efficient preservation methods. Since parts of the results have a high applied and practical impact for the seaweed farmers, these results should be shared and disseminated in a targeted way. In QualiSea_Diss, two notelets, or short handbooks, will be prepared. These will contain recommendations and practical protocols for A) Use of sensors, instrumentation, and rapid analytical methods for assessing the biomass composition and quality; and B) Choice of preservation methods.

In QualiSea, factors that affect the stability and quality of fresh biomass are studied, and methods for characterisation of fresh and stored biomass are assessed, with the aim to develop cost- and energy efficient preservation methods for the biomass. Since the proposal was prepared, the challenges that the project aims to solve, has become even more urgent for the seaweed farmers. Since parts of the results from the QualiSea project have a high applied and practical impact for the seaweed farmers, these results should be shared and disseminated in a targeted way. QualiSea_Diss will significantly expand the dissemination of the applied aspects of the project. Specifically, we will produce two handbooks that will contain recommendations and practical protocols for A) Use of sensors, instrumentation, and rapid analytical methods for assessing the biomass composition and quality; and B) Choice of preservation methods.