EU launches €5.7 million programme to boost algae farming and ...

Enriched Nordic · Found: 2026-03-11 08:07

Four new EU-funded projects have been launched this month, aiming to support the growth of sustainable algae production, offshore aquaculture ...

Source: https://weareaquaculture.com/news/sustainability/eu-launches-57-million-programme-to-boost-algae-farming-and-blue-innovation

Funding Details

Funder

European Commission (CINEA / EMFAF)

Funding Goal

Support sustainable algae production, offshore aquaculture, seaweed cultivation, and blue innovation across European sea basins through the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF).

Funding Amount

€5.7 million total across four projects (individual projects range from ~€1M to €1.58M) (1.000.000 € – 1.580.000 €)

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal in response to specific EMFAF calls for proposals published by CINEA. Calls are issued periodically with defined submission windows. Applicants typically form multi-country consortia and submit detailed project proposals including work plans, budgets, and impact assessments.

Target Region

European Union (specific projects in Spain, Italy, Ireland, Portugal, Canary Islands; EMFAF covers all EU sea basins)

Contact

CINEA (European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency) — contact via cinea.ec.europa.eu

Last Checked

2026-03-11 23:44

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Applicant must be a legal entity established in an EU Member State or associated country eligible under EMFAF
• Consortium-based applications typically required with partners across multiple EU countries

Project Scope

• Projects must align with EMFAF priorities: sustainable aquaculture, blue economy, marine innovation, or fisheries

Required Documents

• Proposals submitted through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal in response to specific EMFAF calls

Constraints

• Project duration typically 24-36 months based on call specifications
• Co-financing requirements apply as per EMFAF grant agreement terms

Summary

The European Union, through the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) managed by CINEA, has launched four new projects totaling €5.7 million to advance sustainable algae farming and blue innovation. The projects — MED-Hubs (€1.49M), ATL.A.HUB (€1.58M), OCEAN GARDENS (~€1M), and SEAGROW (€1.58M) — focus on establishing innovation hubs, shared infrastructure for algae production, open-ocean seaweed cultivation, and large-scale seaweed aquaculture trials across Spain, Italy, Portugal, Ireland, and the Canary Islands. These projects address bottlenecks in European algae and seaweed production by bridging research-to-commercialization gaps, developing modular floating cultivation structures, and creating eco-labelling standards. They align with the EU's broader ocean restoration goals and the EU Green Deal's sustainable blue economy agenda. EMFAF supports the Common Fisheries Policy, EU Maritime Policy, and international ocean governance. EMFAF is a large-scale EU funding instrument with recurring calls for proposals managed through CINEA. While these four specific projects have already been awarded, EMFAF continues to issue new calls for proposals covering sustainable aquaculture, marine innovation, fisheries, and blue economy topics. Applicants can find open calls through the CINEA funding opportunities portal.

Historical Context

These four projects are part of a broader EMFAF investment pattern. The article also references a €116 million EU investment in 13 additional marine health initiatives, indicating substantial and ongoing EU commitment to ocean-related funding.

Sources

• https://weareaquaculture.com/news/sustainability/eu-launches-57-million-programme-to-boost-algae-farming-and-blue-innovation
• https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/programmes/emfaf_en
• https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/european-maritime-fisheries-and-aquaculture-fund_en

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