Phase 3 of the Seaweed for Europe initiative marked a critical transition toward institutional integration at the EU level. Supported by funding from SUN, the coalition successfully positioned itself as a leading voice in the European seaweed sector within two years. This contributed to increased recognition from the European Commission, particularly through DG MARE, culminating in EU Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius announcing a new algae initiative aimed at unlocking the sector’s economic and environmental potential.
Following this milestone, Seaweed for Europe was invited to apply for the EU4Algae project, a key EU initiative to accelerate industry growth. The successful application led to the consortium securing a three-year implementation period starting in 2022. This achievement fulfilled the coalition’s catalytic role, paving the way for its integration into an institutional framework led by the European Commission.
The final phase of the project focused on ensuring a smooth transition to this institutionalized model while contributing to the SUN-Systemiq agenda on innovative environmental protection models.