Both the government and the EU identify algae as an important raw material for a future green food industry. Expanded cultivation is said to be able to generate over 100,000 new jobs within the EU and Swedish water is particularly well-suited.
– Sweden is a country with a lot of coastlines, so in our opinion, there is great potential, says Johan Penner, fisheries coordinator at the Swedish Agency for Agriculture.
According to a report from the European coalition “Seaweed for Europe”, algae production in Europe could grow from the current barely 300,000 tons per year to 8 million by 2030 and generate over 100,000 new jobs.
From the Swedish side, the Swedish Agency for Agriculture sees an increased interest in algae farms.
– We are getting more and more questions about how to establish a farm, says Johan Penner.
The government invests in the algae industry
In June, the government gave the Swedish Agency for Agriculture the task of promoting the algae industry in Sweden. The goal is for the consumption and use of algae-based foods to increase in Sweden.
The Oaktree comments:
The Oaktree believes in algae, and one of our focuses is food. Micro-algae contains antioxidants,ย amino acids, and several other substances that are in what we call superfoods.
If we can be a part of 100,000 new jobs is perhaps too early to say, but we are also focusing on the traditional chemical industry. We do hope that our meetings with President Biden and The Whip Clyburn have helped The Whitehouse to understand that Biomanufacturing is a question of National Security.
