Sustainable farming at sea
To secure food, feed, green chemistry and energy
Wageningen, 26 January 2016
Willem A. Brandenburg
We are not aware using
seaweeds everyday!
Seaweeds are algae
Algae: a heterogeneous group
Archaebacteria
Eubacteria
Blue algae
“Algae”
Green algae
Brown algae
Red algae
Eukaryotes
2000 spp.
1200 spp.
6000 spp.
Seaweeds in the North Sea
Dulse
Palmaria palmata
(red seaweed)
Laminaria digitata
(brown seaweed)
All these seaweeds have
economic potential.
We now have to recognise
the for domestication
relevant characters in other
Seaweeds.
Sea Lettuce
Ulva lactuca
(green seaweed)
Wakame
Undaria pinnatifida
(brown seaweed)
Seaweed biology




No energy loss: seaweeds are hardly differentiating
Total biomass can be harvested
Total variation of photosynthesis systems; light extincts fastly
in the water column, but some seaweeds are still growing
100m below sea surface (clear water)
Production possible throughout the year


Brown seaweeds such as Saccharina and Laminaria spp. grow during
winter season
Marine ecological literature is not always relevant for
cultivation (red seaweeds does not grow slowly under
production conditions)
Seaweed biology: growing depths from sea
surface
Green seaweed
0
-10
-20
-30
-40
eter -50
-60
-70
-80
-90
-100
m
Brown
seaweed
Red
seaweed
Green
seaweed
Brown
seaweed
Red seaweed
Depth of seawater
Our model plant: Ulva lactuca or Sea Lettuce
Our model plant: Ulva lactuca or Sea Lettuce
 Biofilter
 Bioplastics >> marine biodegradable
 Proteins >> sustainable aquatic feed >> human food
 Antibiotics
 Bioenergy >> ethanol or biodiesel
 Green chemicals >> ulvans, lipids, fucose, fucoxanthin
Our model plant: Ulva lactuca or Sea Lettuce
 Most primitive green plant
 Sporofyt and gametofyt both consist of two cell layers;
can double its dry weight per day
 Is thé seaweed for
laboratory studies and the
production of specialties
Ulva lactuca or Sea Lettuce
Saccharina latissima,
good for 10 tonnes
Dw/ha/yr Dutch
conditions
2tonnes of protein,
4tonnes of
carbohydrates, incl.
emulsifiers and 250kg
of PUFAs
The first year at de Wierderij
Seaweed cultivation 2013 Results

Laminaria digitata and Saccharina latissima (brown
seaweeds) respond to the cumulative temperature sum
(Eastern Scheldt water temperature) with regard to the
moment at which young plantlets (min. 5cm) are fixed to
production lines and to the harvest moment.

Implying, that offshore seafarms are now opportunities,
when equipped with temperature sensors: we need only
exactly in time twice a year sen to send an equipe to the
seafarm: the planting moment and the harvesting moment.

Ulva lactuca, however, responds to the actual water
temperature during summertime; it is therefore dependent
on the costs and benefits whether it is worthwhile
considering this one in an offshore scenario. .
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361
Temperatuur sum data
5000.0
4500.0
4000.0
3500.0
3000.0
2500.0
2000.0
1500.0
1000.0
500.0
0.0
We live at sea
 Two third of the world
population lives not
more than 400km from
the sea.
 Somewhat more than
halve of the population
lives at a maximum of
200km from the sea
Agroproduction 21st century
 In 2050 – in order to feed, clothe, house and energise
mankind – we need to have doubled agroproduction
 Question: is that possible?
● Yes, it is, but then don’t bother about biodiversity,
nature etc.
● Triple P? Yes, but then bring agriculture to the
marine environment.
 This should be the start of developing sustainable
seafarms, based on seaweeds and (shell)fish
Mariculture
 Utilisation of space of seas and oceans
 Transition from collecting towards sustainable
production
 Seaweeds-based seafarms produce:
• Proteins
• Pufas
• Carbohydrates
• Micronutrients
• Minerals (especially P)
• Energy
 Selection of production areas, “Hotspots”, and
design of optimal production systems
A futuristic view? 40 years for realisation! 1
 A futuristic view needs:
● A short term approach to meet the long term
objectives
● A step by step programme to avoid long term
irreversable disadvantageous consequences in
societal, economical and environmental sense
● The development of the whole production and
market chain
● Disruptive thinking
 Starting point for new developments is that it must be
TripleP sustainable, since we cannot afford any longer to
threaten the worlds ecosystems and its biodiversity, and
since we have to meet human requirements such as food
security, green chemistry and climate measures
A futuristic view? 40 years for realisation! 2
 Seaweed-based sea farming is then an opportunity:
● Food security >> proteins, micronutrients and lots
of other valuable compounds
● Green chemistry >> replacement of fossile
resources together with land based plant resources
● Energy if not otherwise
● Production of fresh water if needed
● No freshwater usage for plant production
● Recycling of lost plant nutrients
● Sequestering Green House Gasses
Valorisation of seaweeds (1)
 Whole chain approach >> business case opportunities
start with cultivation (scale, method and locality)
 In order to develop the seafarms, we have to embrace
the Triple P sustainability concept to avoid long term
environmental, economic or societal irreversible adverse
effects
 New chain arrangements and partner combinations
needed, such as the combination of offshore and
agriculture or end product producer co-responsible for
the primary production of seaweeds.
The chain
Breeding
Starting
material
Location
Cultivation
Harvesting
Refinery
Products
Iterative procedures between steps, requiring cooperating chain partners!
E.g. from seaweed to seaweed cheese (Ulva)
and mannitol (Laminaria / Saccharina)!
Breeding
Starting
material
Location
Cultivation
Harvesting
Ulva cultivation
Laminaria /
Saccharina
cultivation
Refinery
Products
Valorisation of seaweeds (2)
Cultivation approaches and opportunities
 Onshore and laboratory >
 Specialties
 Nearshore cultivation
 Fresh market, wholesale
cultivation
 Offshore cultivation >
>
and exotic
seaweed production
biomass processed (dried
or frozen etc.) or as
green manure component
 Biorefinery,
major food
or industrial components
(proteins, carbohydrates,
special sugars, pigments
and anti-oxydants etc.)
Valorisation of seaweeds (3)
Challenges
 Onshore and laboratory >
 Climate control and
 Nearshore cultivation
 Cost yield effectiveness
cultivation
 Offshore cultivation >
>
cultivation conditions
 Logistic, costs of
infrastructure yield and
planting mechanisms
Valorisation of seaweeds (4)
Challenges
 Onshore and laboratory > Climate control,
existing
opportunities make it possible
cultivation
 Nearshore cultivation
 Offshore cultivation >
>
 Cost yield effectiveness,
technically there is a tight
schedule of seaweed
cultivation possible, but only
when economically effective
 Logistic, costs of infrastructure
yield and planting
mechanisms, recent cultivation
research has led to a reduction
of costs of more than 50%
Approach
 Facilities: de Wierderij (schelphoek, Eastern Scheldt;
AGROMARINE, Greenhouse, Nergena; 1250m3 bassin
<>SPARK UP project Arkema, Northseaweed, FBR; Pilot at
North Sea <> foundation Northseafarm and
BioSolarCells).
 Design of a nearshore seafarm with production throughout
the year.
 Design of an offshore seafarm that can be combined with
other maritime functions such as wind parks at sea.
Cultivation and maritime infrastructures
Testlocation de
Wierderij
Schelphoek; Eastern Scheldt
Testlocation design
Operational from 1 May 2011
onwards
Seafarms to guarantee constant quality of
biomass
 The first experimental
farm was opened 26
april 2011
Location de Schelphoek, since:
•
•
•
•
Subject of study:
•
•
•
Presence of natural currents
Tide
Sufficient depth
Outside shipping lanes, quiet, natural area
Growth and cultivation
• Light and nutrients
• Crop rotation with regard to pests, diseases and colonisators
• Environmental-effects positive or negative?
Harvest and processing
Robustness of systems
AgroMarine, our seaweed laboratory
Production & Harvesting
J
F
M
A M
J
J
A
Ulva lactuca
Saccharina latissima
Laminaria digitata
Undaria pinnatifida
S
O
N D
Seafarms for food, feed, green chemistry and
recycling of natural resources
Compounds by seaweeds of economic interest
Components
Application
Proteins
Minerals
Food and feed
Food, Personal Healthcare
-iron
-calcium
-phosphor
-copper
-zinc
-magnesium
-jodium
Seaweed
Vitamines: A,C,,B6,B12,B3,B1,B9 B5
Food, Pharmacy and Personal Healthcare
Carageenan (E 407)
Processed Eucheuma seaweed
(E407a)
Alginates
(E400-405)
Food
Food, Personal Healthcare
- Algenic acid (E400)
-Sodium alginate (E401
- Potassium alginaa e(E402)
- Ammonium alginate (E403)
- Calcium alginate (E404)
Protein values of different seaweed species
Fucoidan
Mannitol
Iodine
Carbohydrates
Fatty acids
Pharmacy
Food
Food, Pharmacy
Biofuel
food
l
lv a c
lv a p tu c
a
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U
lv or a
En a c i can
t e lat a
ro h r
m a
M oo ta
on rp
os ha
tro
m
Fu a
La cu
m s
in
ar
i
Al a
ar
i
Sa Pad a
rg in
as a
Pa sum
lm
Po ari
R rp a
ho h
d y yra
m
G en
ra i a
ci
la
ri a
Anti-oxidant
U
Polyfenols
lv
a
Anti-oxidant
U
Fucoxanthine
36
31
26
21
16
11
6
1
-4
U
Food
%
Agar (E406)
Seaweed for human food
 Direct consumption: fresh or dried
 Or extract the different components?
● Hydrocolloids (agar, alginate en carrageenan)
● Carbohydrates, sugars
● Protein
● Antioxydants and vitamins
● Micronutrients
 We focus on proteins
Soup with Sealettuce– harvestikng festival ARCAM,
Amsterdam
Oesters met zeesla
Lamb wit Sealettuce
Paté with Sealettuce
Restaurant de Schelphoek (Schouwen Duiveland)
Proteins for human food?
 It is nice to design meat and diary replacers, but
because of the societal acceptation it is imoportant to
challenge the culinary chain to design a nea generation
of food products based on seaweed (protein), but then
so good in taste and texture that one is likely to prefer it
above meat or dairy products.
 With more than 50% reduction of the ecological foot
print of current dairy products
 Next years these products will be developed by you?
The protein challenge
 World population 2050: +33%
 Global meat consumption 2030: +50%
 3-6 kg plant protein required for 1 kg
meat protein
Urgent need for an increase
in plant protein production
Protein sources for animal
production
 Current global need for feed
protein: 1 billion tonnes per year
 Major current source: soybean
Protein sources for animal
production
 Extension of soybean production?
●
Greater demand of fresh water
● Loss of biodiversity
● Further distorted nutrient balance
 Alternative protein source:
seaweed
●
Use of seas and oceans
● No fresh water required
Seaweeds for (aqua)feed
Mussles are eating processed Sea Lettuce!
Marine biorefinery
Biomass
Seaweed
Chemicals
Consumption
Green fertiliser
Food
Feed
Personal healthcare
Pharmacy
Biorefinery
Residue
Fermentation
Hydro-thermal upgrading (HTU)
Energy carriers
Electricty and heat
Gasification
1200m3 basin with seawater to execute photosynthesis experiments
Arkema Chemie Vlissingen
BioSolarCells U2.5 and multiple functions
 Seaweed biofilter in the Eems-Dollard region, planned
at the Punt van Reide
 Nature restoration and conservation +
 Biomass for green chemistry
Biofilter in de Dollard:
proposed position of the filter
Prototype of biofilter in de Dollard
Maricultural parks?
BIO - OFFSHORE
Large-scale seaweed cultivation in combination with windmill parks at the North Sea
ECN – Wageningen-UR
 5000 km2
 i.e. 10% of the Dutch E.E.Z. of the North Sea
 350 PJth energy
 i.e.10% of the demand of fossile energy
Design of a seafarm
•
Upper cord for green algae, lower cord for red /brown algae
•
Hollow cord with holes to fix seaweeds and allow drip fertilisation on the spot
0.006
Green seaweed
Red seaweed
Absorbance
0.004
0.002
0
500
520
540
560
580
600
620
Wavelenght (nm)
640
660
680
700
Locations

Three approaches, but in common is sustainability

Nearshore; for example de Wierderij, Schelphoek
Offshore; bijvoorbeeld the North Seafarm in de Noordzee
west of Texel
IMTA:
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Fish and seaweeds around an old oil rick
Integrated cultivation in wind mill park at sea
Seaweed as biofilter in harbour areas or for land-based aquaculture
systems
The seafloor and its opportunities
Over 40 years:100.000km2 of seaweed farms
ZeeWaar: de eerste private zeewierteelt in
Zeeland
Planet Earth
Look at it!
More sea than
land
Sustainability?
Sustainability
• Environment
• Society
• Economy
TripleP@Sea?
TripleP@Sea >>
Human thoughts
start from the
landside
Land and sea,
thightly
connected
Preparation & Installation
1. Starting material
 Laminaria digitata & Saccharina latissima
from Hortimare from thin to thick rope
 Fixation of Ulva lactuca into the thick rope
2. Installation on test location
Production & Harvesting
J
F
M
A M
J
J
A
Ulva lactuca
Saccharina latissima
Laminaria digitata
Undaria pinnatifida
S
O
N D
Processing
Products
• Food products
• Personal healthcare
• Pharmacy
Sustainable seaweed
cultivation is necessary
to develop new
production and market
chains!
Case 1 seaweed for protein
feed (shortterm)
food (longterm)
 Shortterm (i.e. within 5
 <2% of the world ocean
 In aquaculture of fish,
 By distant handling and
years seaweeds may act
as an adequate Soy
replacement in the feed
industry
there are indications that
welfare and health of fish
increase by adding
seaweeds biomass as
supplement
surface is neededn to meet
the demand by 10 billion
people (i.e. 4× Portugal or
+360,000km2);
decision large offshore
seafarms are economically
feasible if also biomass
components are sold.
Case 2 closing the loop: phosphate
recycling by seaweeds
P-reservoirs (Biospheric)
Ocean
Total Storage (Mt P)
93,000
Soils
Phytomass
40-50
570-625
- Terrestrial
- Marine
Zoomass
Anthropomass
500-550
70-75
30-50
3
Case 3 Open Seafarm for energy or?
BIO - OFFSHORE
Large scale cultivation of seaweeds in combination with offshore
wind mills
ECN – Wageningen-UR
 5000 km2
 i.e. 10% of the Dutch EEZ
 350 PJth energy
 d.i. 10% of the energy needs in 2020
 Multiple usage of the area (nursery of fish, reduction
of waves and to be combined with other measures
of climate proof coastal defense)
…. Or making smart combinations?
 By combining seaweed
production with a windmill
park will lead towards an
economically beneficial
exploitation
 Combining application of
wind- + wave energy
 Combining application with
storage of energy
 Combining energy with food
production
 Combining existing with
new infrastructure
Case 4 Let us return to the start…….
 Agroproduction 21rd century
 Seaweed in the sea next to the Sahara
● Production and recycling of water and
phosphate
● Internal seaweed water is almo9st fresh
water!
● Drinking water and food source?
● Multiple use of the sea >> we may
restock with that the sea with fish etc.
● The Dutch Rainmaker makes the water
usage possible
Seaweeds might produce fresh water!
Stakeholder relationships
 Science -
Interdisciplinary science
communication
 Primary
stakeholders -
Concerned, directly
involved
 Secundary
stakeholders -
Concerned, not directly
involved
 Society - Societal
conditions, all other
drivers
Society
Secundary stakeholders
Primary stakeholders
Science
Science communication
Society
Society
Secundary stakeholders
Secundary stakeholders
Primary stakeholders
Science
Primary stakeholders
Science
Two scenarios
Sustainability
people
 We made considerable
efforts to make seaweeds
and their applications
known:
 Seaweed at the Boerhave
Museum exposition on
food security in 2015
 Students involved in labscale nutrient experiments
 It is important to invest in human capital for sustainable
seaweed cultivation
 Minor sustainable seaweed cultivation will start in the
year 2016/2017.
Different approaches
 Onshore: specialties in closed production systems
 Nearshore: fresh market as healthy food
 Offshore: large-scale operation to secure protein
production and other green chemistry resources.
 Education schemes for this new sector
 Small test facilities, such as the Wierderij,
Noordzeeboerderij and AgroMarine are then needed.
AgroMarine
Seaweeds for a
sustainable
future
Thank you for your attention
[email protected]