Sumol Compal Presents Tomato Sauce with Portuguese and Organic Seaweed

As part of the SP4a ‘Sea to Fork’ project, Sumol Compal has just launched an innovative tomato sauce enriched with Fucus vesiculosus, a 100% Portuguese and organic seaweed. This raw material was cultivated in a controlled and sustainable manner by the ALGAplus co-organiser, ensuring quality and environmental respect.

With no added salt or preservatives, this new sauce is a healthy and tasty option, perfect for accompanying pasta, fish, seafood, or dishes inspired by the Atlantic. An ideal choice for consumers who enjoy exploring new flavours with a natural and nutritious touch.

ALGAplus at Seagriculture 2025

ALGAplus was present at the 14th Seagriculture Conference EU 2025, an event held from June 17 to 19 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The event brought together the leading players in the seaweed sector.
Inês Oliveira presented the poster ‘New Horizons: advancing Land-based cultivation of Codium tomentosum’, which shows ALGAplus’s ongoing work and commitment to the sustainability of Codium tomentosum farming.

Finnish Students Visited MARE

Five Finnish students, winners of the national Spring competition in Finland, visited MARE  (Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre) and the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon (FCUL) on June 17. Accompanied by Katariina Tonttila from the Children and Youth Foundation, the young students presented an innovative idea: ecological reflectors crafted from fish skin and scales, aimed at enhancing road safety in their country, where darkness prevails for many months of the year.

During the visit, the students explored the Algoteca – Alisu Laboratory, a living collection of microalgae coordinated by Ana Amorim, assistant professor at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon and curator of this laboratory. They had the opportunity to observe marine phytoplankton under the microscope and to explore the potential of algae in areas such as food, cosmetics, and biotechnology.
This visit fostered an exchange of experiences and demonstrated how the connection between youth, innovation, and research can pave the way for sustainable solutions with real impact.

Innovation and Nutrition: Sumol Compal Launches Smoothie with Spirulina from Necton

Sumol Compal, as part of the ‘Sea to Fork’ project, has just launched a functional smoothie with Spirulina for those looking for a boost of energy and nutrients.
Developed in the subproject (SP4a), this smoothie features Spirulina supplied by Necton, the leader of the Algae Vertical. This product not only highlights Sumol Compal’s commitment to innovative ingredients but also emphasises its dedication to promoting healthy alternatives with added nutritional benefits, in line with the objectives of Algae Vertical.

GreenCoLab and Algae Vertical highlight advances in microalgae at RRB 2025, Finland

Alexandre Lima represented GreenCoLab and Algae Vertical at the 21st edition of the International Conference on Renewable Resources & Biorefineries RRB 2025, which took place in Turku, Finland, from 2 to 4 June, bringing together researchers, companies, and policymakers around the sustainable future of the bioeconomy.

During the event, Alexandre Lima presented the poster entitled ‘Life Cycle Assessment of Carotenoid Extraction from Microalgae Biomass: A Biorefinery Approach’, which reflects the progress of the work carried out under Subproject 1 (SP1). This study reinforces the potential of microalgae as a renewable resource, promoting the sustainable extraction of carotenoids from a biorefinery perspective and based on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) principles.

Vertical Algas SP7 project takes children to discover the world of algae at the 47th Faro Book Fair

GreenCoLab was present at the opening of the 47th Faro Book Fair on 14 May with a morning dedicated to children at Jardim da Alameda. The initiative was promoted as part of the Vertical Algas SP7 project. It featured the presentation of the children’s book ‘O Verde do Azul: À Descoberta das Algas’ (The Green of Blue: Discovering the World of Algae), created in partnership with PROALGA to bring young people closer to the fascinating world of algae.

During the session, children participated in interactive activities, including reading excerpts from the book, observing microalgae under a microscope, and tactile exploration of various species of macroalgae. In a fun and educational way, they discovered how algae are present in everyday life, from food to everyday products.

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Vertical Algae Project earns Portuguese researcher international distinction

Researcher Madalena Mendes from GreenCoLab/ALGAplus presented her innovative study on Porphyra spp., commonly known as Nori, at the prestigious International Seaweed Symposium 2025, held in Victoria, Canada, by the International Seaweed Association (ISA).

The presentation, ‘Screening of Farmed Atlantic Nori Strains: Unlocking Their Full Potential for High-Value Applications,’ highlighted innovative results on growth rates, yield, lipid content, and fatty acid profiles of genetically diverse strains of Porphyra produced by ALGAplus.

This work was developed as part of the Algae Vertical project (SP1b), integrated into the Blue Bioeconomy Pact, and is dedicated to exploring the potential of Atlantic macroalgae for high-value applications. This presentation earned Madalena Mendes the prestigious Max Doty Award.

ICAB Exceeds Expectations and Confirms Global Relevance of the Algae Sector

The 1st International Congress on Algae and Biotechnology (ICAB) ended on a highly positive note, bringing together the global community around innovation and the transformative potential of algae. Over three intense days, the congress attracted more than 300 participants, over 100 organisations and representatives from 22 countries, confirming the growing interest in this rapidly expanding sector.
Organised by GreenCoLab and PROALGA, the event featured leading scientific presentations, specialised panel discussions, interactive question-and-answer sessions, and numerous networking opportunities, fostering dialogue between researchers, industry, entrepreneurs, and students.
The diversity of topics covered — from biotechnology to food and pharmaceutical applications, environmental sustainability and public policies to encourage innovation — reflected the multidisciplinary nature and dynamism of the sector.
These figures reflect more than just participation; they represent a growing commitment to the transformative potential of algae.
The enthusiasm evident among participants and the quality of the presentations reinforced the conviction that algae can play a central role in sustainable and technological solutions to the challenges facing the planet today.
With an extremely positive outcome and new international collaborations emerging, ICAB will return next year with even greater ambition, ready to continue driving the Blue Biotechnology sector forward.

Portuguese microalgae helps fight inflammation and diabetes

A microalgae cultivated in Portugal, Dunaliella salina, is proving promising in the field of health. Researchers at the University of Aveiro, in collaboration with CIIMAR, CBQF – Portuguese Catholic University, GreenCoLab and the company Necton, have discovered that this microalgae contains compounds with anti-inflammatory and blood sugar regulating properties.

The study, carried out as part of the Algae Vertical project, which is part of the Blue Bioeconomy Pact, opens the door to the development of new food supplements and functional foods. Dunaliella salina is already approved in Europe for use in supplements, which facilitates its application in the nutrition and health market.

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