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.

4th Edition of the Aquaculture Conference

From 20 to 21 March, the fourth edition of the Aquaculture Conference brought together experts in Olhão to discuss the future of aquaculture production in Portugal. The event, organised by APEZ – Portuguese Association of Zootechnical Engineering, in partnership with S2AQUAcoLAB, took place at the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) (Olhão), bringing together almost a hundred people. Copromotor S2AQUAcoLAB was present and actively participated with innovative presentations dedicated to the health and well-being of marine organisms, addressing topics such as sustainability and discussing ways to optimise and improve production.

SP7 | Algae Cooking Workshop: “Algas no Menu”

GreenCoLab, in partnership with Chef Leonel Pereira from Restaurant CheckIn in Faro, continues to develop initiatives under the “Algae on the Menu” project to disseminate SP7 and the SP4b sub-project.

On World Algae Day and World Food Day, two more “Algae on the Menu” creative culinary workshops were held with participants from different backgrounds and interests.

In this interactive workshop, participants learned about the nutritional benefits of seaweed and its versatility in the kitchen. The activity began with a brief introduction to the different types of edible algae and their unique properties. Next, the participants were encouraged to get their hands dirty, preparing their culinary creations in groups, under the guidance of the chef.

At the end, there was a collective tasting to share and enjoy the dishes prepared, promoting an exchange of experiences and flavors.