Conference Program
Conference Program
Seagriculture Asia-Pacific
18 - 20 March 2025
Adelaide, Australia
Conference Program
Seagriculture Asia-Pacific 2025: Future proofing the seaweed industry
The theme of Seagriculture Asia-Pacific 2025, Future proofing the seaweed industry, encapsulates the moment the industry finds itself in: at the cusp of turning significant scientific potential into enduring, scalable success, including for agriculture and for the environment. This speaks to the industry's need to innovate and adapt to an evolving landscape, where sustainability, technology and growing demand intersect.
It calls on stakeholders across the Asia-Pacific region, and the world more broadly, to share knowledge and harness collective expertise to build a resilient, future-ready seaweed industry that can deliver for both regional economies and regional communities, including first nations communities. By addressing pressing challenges and capitalising on emerging opportunities, this theme fosters a collaborative approach to ensuring the industry thrives well into the future.
Program is tentative and subject to changes.
Site visit: Tuesday 18 March 2025
Join us for a tour of some of the most exciting exclusive experiences Adelaide and South Australia have to offer.
As part of the site visit, you will get the chance to:
- Hear from some of the South Australian Research & Development Institute’s top seaweed scientists and see their work up close
- Speak to a Ngarrindjeri Elder about how sustainable, traditional fishing practices support a balanced ecosystem, and see a demonstration from local community business, Kuti Co
- Sample some of South Australia’s finest and freshest seafood at the Kuti Shack, a stunning restaurant nestled in the sandhills at Goolwa Beach
- Meet and network with many of your fellow Seagriculture attendees ahead of the official conference
Moderator of the conference
Prof Catriona MacLeod, Research Program Leader, Marine Bioproducts CRC & Board Member, ASSA and World Aquaculture Society, Australia
Prof Catriona MacLeod, Research Program Leader, Marine Bioproducts CRC & Board Member, ASSA and World Aquaculture Society, Australia
Conference Day 1: Wednesday 19 March 2025
Opening of the conference
Jo Kelly, Founder & CEO, Australian Seaweed Institute & Chair, Australian Sustainable Seaweed Alliance, Australia
Prof Tim Flannery, Australian climate change leader
Jo Kelly, Founder & CEO, Australian Seaweed Institute & Chair, Australian Sustainable Seaweed Alliance, Australia
Prof Tim Flannery, Australian climate change leader
Keynote Presentation
Steve Meller – CEO President & Co-founder, CH4 Global, Australia
Keynote Presentation
Steve Meller – CEO President & Co-founder, CH4 Global, Australia
Session 1: Seaweeds for climate change mitigation and adaptation
As seaweeds can absorb significant amounts of CO2, they have attracted global attention given their potential for climate change mitigation. But can seaweeds' contribution to climate change mitigation be enhanced at globally meaningful scales? And if so, how to execute this in practice?
As seaweeds can absorb significant amounts of CO2, they have attracted global attention given their potential for climate change mitigation. But can seaweeds' contribution to climate change mitigation be enhanced at globally meaningful scales? And if so, how to execute this in practice?
Moderator
Moderator
Prof Tim Flannery, Australian climate change leader
Panelist
Prof Catriona L. Hurd, Professor of Seaweed, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, Australia
Panelist
Jo Kelly, Founder & CEO, Australian Seaweed Institute & Chair, Australian Sustainable Seaweed Alliance, Australia
Panelist
Steve Meller – CEO President & Co-founder, CH4 Global, Australia
Panelist
Prof Emeritus Rocky de Nys, Chief Scientific Officer, Sea Forest
Moderator
Moderator
Prof Tim Flannery, Australian climate change leader
Panelist
Prof Catriona L. Hurd, Professor of Seaweed, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, Australia
Panelist
Jo Kelly, Founder & CEO, Australian Seaweed Institute & Chair, Australian Sustainable Seaweed Alliance, Australia
Panelist
Steve Meller – CEO President & Co-founder, CH4 Global, Australia
Panelist
Prof Emeritus Rocky de Nys, Chief Scientific Officer, Sea Forest
Session 2: Policy, Regulation, and Governance
In this session various non-technical aspects of seaweed cultivation will be discussed, including the process of acquiring cultivation licenses, and planning, management and funding of seaweed aquaculture. Furthermore, indigenous aspect related to seaweeds will be covered.
In this session various non-technical aspects of seaweed cultivation will be discussed, including the process of acquiring cultivation licenses, and planning, management and funding of seaweed aquaculture. Furthermore, indigenous aspect related to seaweeds will be covered.
Session 3: Panel discussion on seaweed investments and business aspects in Asia-Pacific
During this session, seaweed business and investment experts will share their vision on the seaweed industry in the Asia Pacific region, on needs and expectations, and on what the next steps should be.
During this session, seaweed business and investment experts will share their vision on the seaweed industry in the Asia Pacific region, on needs and expectations, and on what the next steps should be.
Panelist
Panelist
Nick Hill, Co-founder & CEO, Coast 4C, Australia
Panelist
Ivan Ivanov, Global Lead for Sustainable Protein Advisory Services, International Finance Corporation (IFC), Vietnam
Panelist
Arnav Mariwala, Founder & CEO, MariTide Aquatech LLP, India
Panelist
Panelist
Nick Hill, Co-founder & CEO, Coast 4C, Australia
Panelist
Ivan Ivanov, Global Lead for Sustainable Protein Advisory Services, International Finance Corporation (IFC), Vietnam
Panelist
Arnav Mariwala, Founder & CEO, MariTide Aquatech LLP, India
Session 4: Seaweed farming 2.0
Seaweed farming 2.0 refers to applying smart farming techniques to reduce the costs of seaweed farming and to increase production yields. During this session experts will discuss different aspects of this topic.
Seaweed farming 2.0 refers to applying smart farming techniques to reduce the costs of seaweed farming and to increase production yields. During this session experts will discuss different aspects of this topic.
Cost Reductions in Offshore Seaweed: What Matters and What Doesn‘t
Nate Baker, Ocean Engineer, Kelson Marine, USA
Restorative practices for environmental, social and economic gains
Heidi Alleway, Senior Aquaculture Scientist, The Nature Conservancy, Australia
Cost Reductions in Offshore Seaweed: What Matters and What Doesn‘t
Nate Baker, Ocean Engineer, Kelson Marine, USA
Restorative practices for environmental, social and economic gains
Heidi Alleway, Senior Aquaculture Scientist, The Nature Conservancy, Australia
Seaweed Elevator Pitches
The Seaweed Elevator Pitches offer a unique, fast-paced, and diverse session where presenters have five minutes to deliver a concise, impactful presentation on their activities and innovative ideas. All topics are possible as long as they deal with seaweeds.
The Seaweed Elevator Pitches offer a unique, fast-paced, and diverse session where presenters have five minutes to deliver a concise, impactful presentation on their activities and innovative ideas. All topics are possible as long as they deal with seaweeds.
Labor saving seaweed cultivation using floatable block
Masaru Okamoto, President, Algae Culture Tec Corp., Japan
Fremantle Seaweed: The Blueprint for Offshore Culitvation of Asparagopsis
Chris de Cuyper, Co-founder and CEO, Fremantle Seaweed Pty Ltd, Australia
Labor saving seaweed cultivation using floatable block
Masaru Okamoto, President, Algae Culture Tec Corp., Japan
Fremantle Seaweed: The Blueprint for Offshore Culitvation of Asparagopsis
Chris de Cuyper, Co-founder and CEO, Fremantle Seaweed Pty Ltd, Australia
Conference Dinner at the Rose Garden Pavilion
The perfect opportunity to network with the other conference delegates in an exclusive location while enjoying dinner together.
Conference Day 2: Thursday 20 March 2025
Session 5: Value-added products and market opportunities
Everyone is aware of the use of seaweeds as hydrocolloids and in Asian cuisine. During this session we will hear about new, innovative applications for seaweeds in food and non-food applications.
Everyone is aware of the use of seaweeds as hydrocolloids and in Asian cuisine. During this session we will hear about new, innovative applications for seaweeds in food and non-food applications.
The Economic and Social Value from Marine Bioproducts
Daniel Abrahams, CEO, Marine Bioproducts CRC, Australia
Seaweed solutions looking for problems
Johan Svenson, Science Impact Manager, Cawthron Institute, New Zealand
The Economic and Social Value from Marine Bioproducts
Daniel Abrahams, CEO, Marine Bioproducts CRC, Australia
Seaweed solutions looking for problems
Johan Svenson, Science Impact Manager, Cawthron Institute, New Zealand
Session 6: Seeding & breeding of seaweeds
Presentations from experts in the field of seeding and breeding of seaweeds. How to further increase production yields? Novel developments in seeding techniques. And more.
Presentations from experts in the field of seeding and breeding of seaweeds. How to further increase production yields? Novel developments in seeding techniques. And more.
Advancing Seaweed Cultivation in New Zealand: Greenwave Aotearoa's Journey and Vision for the Future
Ryan Marchington, Aquaculture Science and Operations Lead, Greenwave Aotearoa, New Zealand
Title to be confirmed
Phil Kerrison, Research specialist in red seaweed cultivation, Hortimare, The Netherlands
Advancing Seaweed Cultivation in New Zealand: Greenwave Aotearoa's Journey and Vision for the Future
Ryan Marchington, Aquaculture Science and Operations Lead, Greenwave Aotearoa, New Zealand
Title to be confirmed
Phil Kerrison, Research specialist in red seaweed cultivation, Hortimare, The Netherlands
Keynote Presentation:
FutureFeed - Commericialising new products in emerging impact markets – a balancing act
Alex Baker, CEO, FutureFeed, Australia
Keynote Presentation:
FutureFeed - Commericialising new products in emerging impact markets – a balancing act
Alex Baker, CEO, FutureFeed, Australia
Session 7: Seaweed of the year 2025: Asparagopsis
During this session Asparagopsis, seaweed of the year 2025, will be in the spotlight. Experts will discuss the cultivation, processing and applications of this red seaweed species.
During this session Asparagopsis, seaweed of the year 2025, will be in the spotlight. Experts will discuss the cultivation, processing and applications of this red seaweed species.
Seaweed Elevator Pitches
The Seaweed Elevator Pitches offer a unique, fast-paced, and diverse session where presenters have five minutes to deliver a concise, impactful presentation on their activities and innovative ideas. All topics are possible as long as they deal with seaweeds.
The Seaweed Elevator Pitches offer a unique, fast-paced, and diverse session where presenters have five minutes to deliver a concise, impactful presentation on their activities and innovative ideas. All topics are possible as long as they deal with seaweeds.
Scaling seaweed production using Salmon farms in South East Tasmania?
Dr Shea Cameron, Asset and Planning Manager, Huon Aquaculture, Australia
Beyond the Shoreline: The Cultural Significance of Seaweed in Indigenous Australian Traditions
Sarah Gorst, Co-Founder, South Coast Seaweed, Australia
Scaling seaweed production using Salmon farms in South East Tasmania?
Dr Shea Cameron, Asset and Planning Manager, Huon Aquaculture, Australia
Beyond the Shoreline: The Cultural Significance of Seaweed in Indigenous Australian Traditions
Sarah Gorst, Co-Founder, South Coast Seaweed, Australia
Organiser:
Representative Australia:
Exclusive Event Sponsor:
State Government Sponsors:
Sponsors:
Platinum Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
Platinum Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
Official Airline
Official Airline
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