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China has been announced as the partner country for AlgaEurope 2026, one of the leading international conferences dedicated to the algae industry. The event, which brings together scientists, industry leaders, and policymakers, serves as a platform to discuss the latest developments in algae production, processing, and commercial applications.

The partnership highlights China’s growing influence and investment in the global algae sector. As a major producer and researcher in algae cultivation, China plays a significant role in advancing technologies and expanding commercial uses for algae across food, feed, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and biofuels.

AlgaEurope provides an opportunity for stakeholders from across the value chain to exchange knowledge, showcase innovation, and explore collaboration opportunities. With China as partner country, the 2026 edition is expected to feature strong participation from Chinese research institutions, companies, and industry representatives, offering insights into the country’s large-scale production capabilities and technological advancements.

The conference traditionally includes presentations, panel discussions, and networking sessions designed to foster cooperation and drive growth within the algae sector. By spotlighting China, organisers aim to strengthen international ties and encourage further collaboration between European and Chinese stakeholders.

The announcement underscores the strategic importance of algae as a sustainable resource with diverse commercial applications. As global demand rises for alternative proteins, renewable materials, and environmentally friendly solutions, the role of algae continues to expand. China’s designation as partner country for AlgaEurope 2026 reflects both its established leadership in the field and the increasing global significance of algae-based industries.

Seaweed based products are increasingly helping farmers improve soil health and reduce fertiliser costs, as demonstrated by a farming system in Marlborough, New Zealand. Seaweed has historically been used in New Zealand agriculture, with Māori communities using native seaweeds (rimurimu) for soil conditioning and food production. Commercial use expanded in the 1970s and 1980s with liquid seaweed fertilisers, and further developed in the mid 1990s when companies such as AgriSea began producing seaweed based soil and plant biostimulants.

Marlborough farmer Bryce McIntyre integrated seaweed biostimulants into his pasture and vineyard management about four to five years ago to improve soil health rather than relying solely on conventional fertilisers. Since adopting a soil focused approach that combines seaweed products, grazing management and pasture programmes, his annual fertiliser spending has dropped to about half of previous levels. He now runs higher cattle stocking rates and reports stronger pasture growth and resilience during dry periods.

AgriSea produces agricultural products using sustainably collected beach cast seaweed processed through a cold, chemical free extraction method. According to AgriSea, farmers across New Zealand are increasingly combining conventional fertilisers with seaweed biostimulants to enhance soil microbiology and improve nutrient availability.

Beyond soil health benefits, research is also exploring certain seaweed species as livestock feed additives to reduce methane emissions. While seaweed is not a standalone solution, it is emerging as an effective component of sustainable, soil focused farming systems that can improve productivity and lower input costs.

Mumbai entrepreneur Neha Jain left her career in the technology sector to develop sustainable packaging solutions made from seaweed. After working at Google for five years, she shifted her focus to environmental innovation and founded Zerocircle, a material science startup launched in 2020.

The company produces 100 percent dissolvable, eco friendly packaging designed as an alternative to conventional plastic, which is widely used but contributes heavily to landfill waste and marine pollution. Zerocircle converts different species of seaweed into a powder that is then processed into packaging materials such as shopping bags, garment bags, and food packaging films.

The seaweed used by the company is sourced from farms in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. Seaweed offers several sustainability advantages because it grows in the ocean and does not require fresh water, fertilisers, land, or additional energy inputs. This makes it an environmentally efficient raw material compared with traditional packaging resources.

A key feature of Zerocircle’s products is that the packaging is fully soluble and dissolves in water, including in ocean environments, without leaving behind microplastics or harming marine biodiversity.

Through this innovation, the startup aims to reduce plastic pollution while providing low cost, biodegradable packaging alternatives for consumers and businesses. Zerocircle demonstrates how seaweed based materials can contribute to sustainable packaging solutions and support the transition away from conventional plastics.

Two African innovators have secured places among the Top 20 global finalists of the 2026 Global Change Award, one of the fashion industry’s most influential sustainability challenges, signalling the continent’s growing role in reshaping the future of materials, climate technology and circular manufacturing.

In the race to become single-use-plastic-free, ambition scale seems to be the biggest hurdle. It is one thing to trial compostable packaging at a boutique café; quite another to deploy it across a national fast-food chain. That is why the new partnership between Notpla and Kwalitaria deserves attention far beyond the Netherlands.

A new production method for PHAs is being scaled up by Uluu (Perth, Western Australia; www.uluu.com.au) using seaweed, microbes and saltwater. “First, we hydrolyze the seaweed, breaking it down into fermentable sugars before separating the sugar-rich liquid from the remaining solids.

Californian seaweed tech startup Aqua Theon has secured $13M in a seed funding round, $5M of which is earmarked for the expansion of its OoMee line of functional marine beverages.