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Presentation Title: Seaweed aquaculture in Aotearoa New Zealand – from bucket science to implementationDr Marie Magnusson leads the Entrepreneurial Universities Macroalgal Programme jointly funded by the New Zealand Tertiary Education Commission and the University of Waikato, with the objective to domesticate and develop bioproducts from NZ species of macroalgae to support a sustainable seaweed aquaculture industry. She leads a team of research fellows, technical officers, and post-graduate students to deliver leading-edge multi-disciplinary research in macroalgal biology and production, biotechnology, and bioproduct development, with a strong focus on industry engagement and commercial outcomes. Dr Magnusson’s most recent research has focused on Ulva, Ecklonia, and Asparagopsis, including human health, ruminant livestock productivity, and pollution remediation applications. During 2020, Dr Magnusson’s team put its new macroalgal research facility (pictured) into operation. The facility is the first in NZ to provide state-of-the art infrastructure for seaweed cultivation from nursery stages to grow-out to deliver closed life-cycle aquaculture production of seaweed, and is quickly becoming the foundation of additional excellent research. |
Presentation title: Seaweed aquaculture in Aotearoa New Zealand – from bucket science to implementation
Seaweed aquaculture is an emerging industry in Aotearoa New Zealand, with interest and support from both Government and Industry steadily increasing over the past five years. Here, I will provide an overview of the work of my research team at the University of Waikato to provide a foundation for building and supporting this emerging industry with applied research anchored in a fundamental understanding of biology, ecology, and chemistry. As the most advanced examples, I will discuss the aquaculture of Ulva (sea lettuce) and Ecklonia radiata (common kelp), and our journey from petri dishes to bucket science to implementation. I will touch upon some of the drivers behind the renewed interest for seaweed aquaculture in Aotearoa New Zealand, and share some of the hurdles and bottlenecks as well as the key facilitators underpinning our progress.