Algaplus Producao e Comercializacao de Algas e Seus Derivados LDA (Portugal)
ALGAplus is a private Portuguese company that initiated its activity in 2012. We produce customised seaweed and seaweed-based products mainly for the food and well-being markets, reaching the B2B (companies & restaurants) and B2C (retail) sectors with different brands. ALGAplus seaweed are organic certified and we assure warranties of sustainability, quality standards through time and traceability to our customers. Sustainable production under the Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) concept, a strong focus in R&D and continuous support to our customers are our keystones.
All seaweed production phases are carried out in-house: biomass production in a land-based modular IMTA system, processing (washing, drying, salting, cutting, milling) and packaging. We work with our customers on tuning the seaweed biomass to the desired characteristics or on the domestication of new species of interest, giving them the product differentiation needed in highly competitive markets. Our main species in production is Ulva rigida, with a current production capacity of 2tons (fw) per month with yields of 30ton (fw)/month/ha; upscaling production is mandatory due to market demand. We are now optimising the current system in terms of energy and labour costs, manipulation of production factors according to downstream needs and upscaling to a demonstration pond.
We will also be involved in the processing of the biomass into different products since it is crucial to define the best value for the biomass produced. ALGAplus works on the development of new seaweed-based food products in partnership with already established food companies. Some products already (or about to go) in the market are: a seaweed bread with no salt , a salted honey, a ready-to-eat canned meal and a frozen ready-meal.
In terms of outreach, the company is strongly related with the local community (associations, schools, governmental bodies), is part of national associations of the sector and integrated in international networks (ISAP, SIA, Latin-America algae network). The company has an open-door policy, being education part of its strategy.
