Expanding Markets through Differentiation: New Species and Product Lines

Our ability to efficiently process farmed seaweed has improved, however current supply of Alaskan farmed sugar kelp exceeds demand, indicating the need to put greater emphasis on both expanding existing markets and creating new ones through species diversification, product differentiation, and development of diverse markets. To support a thriving seaweed mariculture industry, the link from processing to successful markets requires greater attention to fostering integrated market differentiation and product development.

This project will build on learning from ongoing farming, processing and marketing activities in the three areas that are showing the most promise in our other JIP (“Testing Four Approaches to Small-Scale Primary Seaweed Stabilization & Matching Methods to Markets”), including: promoting innovations in seaweed farming by helping to support four farms and two nurseries to grow three additional kelp species based on our current success selling diverse wild-set species; expanding salting trials and product testing for gourmet restaurant/specialty food markets, and; developing seaweed-based plant biostimulants targeting Alaska growers.

Learn more here.