Contact
Kolbrún Sveinsdóttir
Project Manager
kolbrun.sveinsdottir@matis.is
A three-year Nordic project on bioactive seaweed, funded by Nordic Innovation, is currently being completed. The project (Seaweed bioactive ingredients with verified in-vivo bioactivities) was managed by Matís and carried out in collaboration with the research institute VTT in Finland, the University of Iceland, Kristianstad University and the companies Marinox (producer of seaweed extract), FinnSnack (producer of rye products), Pharmia ( development and production of food supplements) and UNA skincare (manufacturer of skin care products).
Prior to the project, Marinox had developed new methods for producing seaweed extracts (Fucus vesiculosus), with high bioactivity according to test tubes (in vitro). This created opportunities in the food and cosmetics industry, but first the bioactivity had to be confirmed by further testing, ie whether the seaweed extract had a measurable effect on human health. The project therefore focused on researching the effects of ingesting seaweed extract and using lotions containing seaweed extract. Products containing seaweed extract were developed and tested within the project, and consumers' responses to seaweed extract and its use as food supplements and as ingredients in food were studied.
The results of the tests showed a positive effect of using the seaweed extract and overall it can be said that the seaweed extract has good potential as a dietary supplement, as an ingredient in foods and lotions. A market research carried out within the project also provided further insight into market development and market opportunities for seaweed, and which, together with other results of the project, will support the companies within the project in their next steps.