Projects

Our scientists are involved in a diverse array of research projects that span Norwegian kelp ecology, genomics, and the seaweed industry, to inform sustainable management, conservation and climate change projections for kelp forests. Read more about each project below.

PROTEUS - kelP side stReam valOrisaTion to dEvelop new biobased valUe chainS

The wider PROTEUS project aims to develop Europe’s first fully integrated industrial biorefinery for brown macroalgae in Norway. By pioneering eco-friendly methods, including formaldehyde-free harvesting and extraction techniques, the project aims to create greener alternatives for everyday products in food, animal feed, personal care, and industrial products. This cutting-edge biorefinery will also support sustainable development and advance the circular bioeconomy.

Within the Proteus project, we investigate the ecological impacts of kelp harvesting across Norway, specifically in terms of the effects on biodiversity, kelp life histories, and recovery rates under varying abiotic conditions. Our multidisciplinary approach will integrate underwater video surveys, acoustic mapping, eDNA analyses, and traditional taxonomic sampling to compare harvested and control sites and monitor recovery between harvesting periods. This work will advance understanding of kelp forest resilience and inform evidence-based strategies for the sustainable management of seaweed resources.

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GEcoKelp

GEcoKelp aims to reveal the effects of warming and marine heatwaves on Norwegian kelp forests in multi-stressor seascapes, at the genomic, ecological and ecosystem level, paving the way for a sustainable ocean through science-informed management and mitigation strategies.

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BlueARC - The impact of climate change on Arctic blue carbon

The primary objective of BlueARC is to assess the impact of climate change on Arctic carbon cycling by closing key knowledge gaps in our understanding of the carbon sink capacity of Arctic kelp forests. Our project poses 3 research questions:

1. How do subarctic to Arctic biophysical gradients shape kelp standing biomass, detritus production and fate?

2. How will climate driven shifts in biological processes impact kelp carbon dynamics in the Arctic?

3. How will changing Arctic conditions alter the importance of Arctic kelp forests as blue carbon sinks?