A showcase of the latest developments in the Australian seaweed industry will be part of the International Seaweed Symposium in Hobart in February 2023.
The showcase will also be a networking event, bringing those in the sector together with others from the finance and investment sector who may be interested in learning more about what is happening in Australia.
The Australian Sustainable Seaweed Alliance (ASSA), the peak industry body in Australia is hosting the showcase, which will be held from 5.30pm to 7.30pm on Tuesday 21 February at the Harbour View Room of the Grand Chancellor Hotel which is the conference venue.
ASSA chair Jo Kelly says the showcase will be a chance to learn more about the exciting developments driving this emerging sector in Australia and also some of the challenges they are facing.
The United Nations Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Oceans, Peter Thomson, will officially open the showcase, highlighting the value of seaweed as part of the Sustainable Blue Economy and as a contributor to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Other confirmed speakers will outline developments being made by Sea Forest, CH4 Global, Pacific Bio, the Australian Seaweed Institute and Tassal Group.
Drinks and canapes will be provided. Tickets are $45 and spaces are limited. Tickets must be pre-purchased, although admission is free to ASSA members.
The showcase is a side event to the main 24th International Seaweed Symposium 2023 (ISS2023) program, which runs from Sunday 19 February to Friday 24 February 2023, in Hobart and online.
Global debate
Registrations for the symposium have exceeded expectations, with 700 delegates from around the world expected to take part to discuss and debate the latest developments in seaweed science, propagation, and processing.
The symposium is held every four years and is the feature event of the International Seaweed Association, which has been operating for more than 70 years to promote the development of seaweed research and the seaweed industry globally.
The theme for this year’s symposium is ‘Seaweeds in a changing world’, with 450 presentations, 6 concurrent sessions and 150 poster presentations.
Presentations will focus on ongoing changes in seaweed aquaculture practices, industrial processing, future products and markets, local and global environmental change, and scientific advances that are advancing knowledge about how seaweeds function.
Pre-event workshops
There will be 3 pre-symposium workshops on Sunday 19 February that delegates can register for separately:
· How will biota respond to a changing ocean? A best practice guide for multiple drivers research
· Towards a strategy for a global effort to address fundamental gaps in seaweed taxonomic knowledge
· Charting a global agenda for kelp restoration
After the official welcome event on 19 February, ISS sessions will run over 4 days, with a mid-event rest day to allow participants to explore the local environment and social activities.
Keynote speakers represent global leaders in seaweed research and development from Denmark, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Madagascar, Australia and New Zealand.
Symposium program
Topics of concurrent sessions include kelp forest restoration, ocean change and climate mitigation, carbon sequestration, seaweed ecosystems, taxonomy diversity and evolution.
Market outlooks and opportunities will be presented in sessions looking specifically at the industry in Australia, as well as Australia-China collaborations, international markets, tropical seaweed aquaculture and biosecurity issues.
There will also be diverse presentations across the seaweed supply chain, from farming, harvesting and downstream processing, to end-use products ranging from bioplastics, textiles, food additives, healthcare, animal feeds and agricultural biostimulants.
All presentations will be recorded, and access to the recordings will be available for up to 3 months following the ISS. Single day registrations are also available for on-site attendance, with access to recordings on the day of registration.
Major sponsors for the event include the Tasmanian Government, University of Tasmania, Fisheries Research and Development Corporation and Marine Bioproducts Cooperative Research Centre.
More information: Visit the ISS2023 website for details about the program and to register.
This article was produced for Seaweednews.au by Coretext, media partner for ISS2023.
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