Algae are sexy, and nobody can say otherwise

The second EU Algae Awareness Summit, organised in Berlin on 16 and 17 October 2025, marked another positive moment for the algae sector in the EU.

Hosted in the beautiful Axica Center, a stone's throw away from the Brandenburg Gate, it brought together over 250 participants to explore how algae can contribute to Europe's blue bioeconomy, food security, climate neutrality, and ocean restoration.

Under the spotlight were the (yet untapped) business opportunities the sector offers, the many applications of macro and micro algae, and even art.

Algae have the potential to be a key driver in the EU blue bioeconomy. The innovative applications showcased by EU companies at the Algae Awareness Summit are a great example of this potential. Here are a few examples.

Algae can be used to produce clean textiles

Runa Ray, a fashion environmentalist, brought to Berlin her KelpTex, a fabric crafted from invasive algae species combined with seaweed. KelpTex has many applications, from clothing to leather-like goods, like agenda covers, and the outcome is just beautiful.

Algae can be a gamechanger in product design too

Seaweed can offer biodegradable solutions for the hospitality sector and for airlines, for example. Morgan Rae, founder of L'eautelier, explained that they are already collaborating with airlines, supplying seaweed-based alternatives to single use plastics. She had on display 100% seaweed-made paper straws (you could even eat them, as it's all seaweed!), food trays, and reusable cups made from seaweed. She's also looking into scaling up the production of seaweed 'leather', currently a prototype.

Seaweed can be an alternative to the use of 'forever chemicals'

Algae Scopedeveloped seaweed-based coating, offering an alternative to PFAS. Their coating is water and fire-resistant, and contrary to PFAS, it won't last forever in our environment. Is the powder in this little bottle the answer to one of the most controversial chemicals of our time?

And the list goes on. Food, feed, fertilisers… micro and macroalgae have the power to give it all.

The Commission is investing in the EU algae sector to unlock its full potential, through funding and initiative like EU4Algae.

"Our commitment remains strong. Algae offer solutions to some of today's most pressing challenges. The European Ocean Pact identifies algae as a nature-positive solution for these challenges and calls upon us to expand their production across Europe", said Kostas Cadis, Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, in his keynote speech.

And his call to action has been heard loud and clear. Three EU countries - Germany, France, and Greece - signed in Berlin the Algae Declaration , with Finland and Portugal expected to sign soon. The Declaration reinforces the shared ambition to strengthen cooperation, unlock algae's economic and environmental potential, and accelerate its integration into national and EU policy frameworks.

The two-day event ended on an artistic note, with a moving reading from Julia Lohmann.

A designer and researcher, her performance brought to life the voice of seaweed. What if seaweed could talk to us humans, what would it say about the challenges of nature in today's changing environment? During the reading, immersed in the underwater seaweed images changing on the maxi screen on the main stage, the audience could connect deeply with the profound meaning of the performance by touching, smelling, and feeling, the seaweed samples that were passed around.

There couldn't be a better way to end this inspiring event. A powerful message reminding us that innovation, research, and new opportunities in the algae sector must go hand in hand with nature preservation and ocean protection.

The audience left the futuristic building from Frank Gehry with a renewed sense of empowerment. The future of algae is bright, let's seize it - together.

More information

EU4Algae

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