Seaweed association set to mark milestone year

The organisation representing Scottish seaweed growers will be celebrating its first decade this November at its annual conference in Oban, on Scotland’s west coast.

The conference of the Scottish Seaweed Industry Association (SSIA) takes place on the 20 – 21 November at Corran Halls in Oban.

The theme of the event will be “10 Years of the SSIA: Where Will We Be in 10 Years?”

This two-day event will not only reflect on the remarkable growth and achievements of the seaweed sector over the past decade, but also lay the foundations for the future. Industry leaders, researchers, and professionals from across Scotland and the UK will convene to share insights, explore innovations, and foster collaborations that will shape the next decade of the industry.

The Scottish Seaweed Industry Association (SSIA) was established in Oban in 2014 by a coalition of organisations within the Scottish seaweed sector. Recognising the need for a unified voice in a growing industry, the founding members aimed to address some of the sector’s most pressing challenges in policy, regulation, safety, and best practices.

Dr Adam Hughes, Senior Lecturer at SAMS and previous SSIA director, was in the room when the momentous decision was made: “I remember being in the meeting when the decision was made to form the SSIA, there was a palpable feeling in the room that seaweed had a huge potential in Scotland but we needed to come together to overcome shared challenges and to share knowledge.

“Ten years later, that sense of excitement is still there, and we still have challenges to overcome, but the sector has made huge steps towards that early vision, and continues to grow into a vibrant industry”

A growing industry

The first SSIA conference ran in Oban in November 2016. It was a one-day conference with approximately 50 people in attendance. In contrast, the 2023 annual conference saw over 170 delegates from around the world convene in Oban for the first conference since the Covid-19 pandemic.

This year’s conference will open with a reception and a traditional Scottish Ceilidh at the Corran halls where the first conference was held. SSIA Business Development Manager Rhianna Rees said: “We are delighted to host a Ceilidh this year, celebrating Scottish culture and fostering connections among attendees from the outset.”

Sponsored by Crown Estate Scotland and Fishmonger’s Hall, the annual conference is a chance for SSIA members to share their latest developments, hear from buyers, and learn about future routes to market.

Daniel Carcajona, Business Development Manager at SAMS Enterprise and a current Director of the SSIA, commented: “I am excited about the upcoming SSIA’s annual conference, marking its 10th anniversary. This milestone event is a pivotal opportunity for industry professionals, researchers and enthusiasts to come together, celebrate a decade of progress and explore the future of the seaweed sector in Scotland. I encourage you to attend and be part of the discussions that will shape the next decade of innovation and growth in our sector.”

Gillian Martin (L) with Rhianna Rees, SSIA Conference 2023

Diverse agenda

The event will feature a diverse agenda, including keynote presentations from renowned speakers Stefan Kraan, Chief Scientific Officer at the Seaweed Company, and Mairi Gougeon, Minister for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands.

Other agenda items include a series of engaging panel sessions and talks that explore lessons learned from other sectors, innovative uses of seaweed as biostimulants, and the scalable prospects of biorefineries. Attendees can also look forward to interactive workshops, and a dynamic exhibition hall showcasing the latest advancements in the industry.

This event also provides ample opportunities for networking, allowing participants to connect with industry peers, cultivate valuable partnerships, and gain deeper insights during dedicated networking sessions.

Richard Searle, a director of the SSIA for four years, and current company secretary said he feels this will be a momentous event: “As a founding supporter, and for many years a director, I’m delighted to see the SSIA reach its tenth anniversary and wish it further success in the next 10 years. It is pleasing to see new entrants continue to enter the industry and I wish them and the SSIA all success in what I see as gradually maturing exciting new industry.”

The SSIA invites all those interested in the future of the sector to join them in Oban as they reflect on the past decade and look ahead to the promising future of Scotland’s seaweed industry.

Owen Haines,Stevie Jarron and Tim van Berkel at the SSIA Conference in 2023