Dr. Maria Barbosa is a Professor in Bioprocess Engineering and is the Director of AlgaeParc at Wageningen University and Research Center in the Netherlands.  She has been President of the Dutch Biotechnology Association (NBV) and is a member of the European Algae Biomass Association (EABA) steering group. She holds a Ph. D. in Bioprocess Engineering obtained at Wageningen University. She has worked at ETH (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology), Switzerland, IBET, and at EMBO (European Molecular Biology Organisation), Germany. 

She presently leads the group on microalgal biotechnology and coordinates several large research programs covering the entire microalgae production chain.

Her scientific interests are in microalgae strain improvement, process design and scale-up. 

Qiang Hu graduated from the School of Life Sciences at Ben-Gurion University, Israel, in 1996, with a PhD in Biology from the School of Life Sciences at Ben-Gurion University, Israel. He is currently Professor of Synthetic Biology at Shenzhen University of Science and Technology, PhD supervisor, researcher at the Institute of Synthesis, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology (SIAT), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), selected candidate of the National Talent Project, selected as one of the “Top 2% of the World’s Top Scientists” and the “Lifetime Scientific Impact List”. He was selected as one of the “Top 2% of Global Scientists” and “Lifetime Scientific Influence Ranking”, Associate Editor of Algae, and member of the editorial boards of Algal Research, Phycology, Journal of Applied Phycology and Applied Phycology. Hu Qiang is the director of the Beijing Microalgae Biomass Center and principal scientist. Qiang Hu’s R&D team uses advanced manufacturing technologies (equipment manufacturing, LED photovoltaic technology, AI machine learning technology) and synthetic biology (gene editing, metabolic pathway reconstruction, cell programming technology) to synthesize biomolecules, bioactives and biomaterials from light and carbon dioxide through microalgae cell factories. Applications include food, feed, medicines, cosmetics and fine chemicals. Qiang Hu’s team is also working on using microalgae biotechnology to treat wastewater and industrial waste gases with a high carbon dioxide content, as well as utilizing microalgae biomass resources.

BSc on Marine Biology and an MSc on Aquaculture, co-founded Necton S.A., where he has been the current Director and President of the Board of Directors, since 1997. Participated in several national and European research projects, holding more than 20 years of experience in microalgal biotechnology, from strain selection and isolation to intensive industrial cultivation in closed and open systems, downstream processing and product development. Co-founder of A4F, he was CTO for this company until 2014. In 2015 and 2016, he was consultant of Algafarm/Allmicroalgae. In 2018 he co-founded GreenColab, the Collaborative Portuguese Laboratory for algae biotechnology, and has been vice president since then. He was also the President of PROALGA, the Portuguese Association for Algae Producers (2020-2024). Following the acquisition of Allmicroalgae by Necton in late 2022, he is also the current President of the Board of Directors of that company. He was managing the H2020 project Magnificent and is the general coordinator of the Horizon Europe project REALM and of the Algae Vertical from the Portuguese Biotechnology Pact.

With a career marked by the relentless pursuit of innovation and excellence, this entrepreneur combines in-depth experience in microalgae production, photobioreactor development and research and development (R&D) project management. His ability to turn challenges into opportunities positions him as a benchmark in the sector, combining strategic vision and technical competence.

Complementing this diversified background, it stands out as one of the largest producers of traditional sea salt, where it combines artisanal methods with sustainable and innovative practices, valuing tradition without sacrificing progress. This unique combination of experiences reflects an ongoing commitment to creating differentiated, sustainable and high-impact solutions for the future of business.

Hugo Pereira holds a PhD in Marine Biotechnology from the University of Algarve. He is currently the General Manager of the GreenCoLab – Green Ocean Technologies and Products Collaborative Laboratory.

Previously, he was a research collaborator in the MarBiotech group (Centre of Marine Sciences, Portugal) and in the R&D departments of Necton S.A. (Belamandil, Portugal) and Allmicroalgae (Pataias, Portugal). He has more than 15 years of experience in algal biotechnology, covering most of the value chain, from strain bioprospection to developing novel products for different biotechnological applications.

Hugo has published around 90 articles in peer-reviewed journals and 4 book chapters and has performed several oral communications at international conferences (e.g., AlgaEurope, European Phycology Conference, Algae Nexus, YAS23). He has participated in different national (e.g., SEABIOMED, ALGACO2, ALGAVALOR, VALORMAR) and international projects (e.g., SABA, ALGARED+, MAGNIFICENT, SIMBA, PROFUTURE, REALM, LOCALITY, ALGAE4IBD, GIANT LEAPS) related to algal biotechnology.

With a degree in Business Administration from the University of Pernambuco (Brazil) and a Master’s in Accounting and Auditing from the University of Aveiro (Portugal), after a career in finance, he has over 20 years’ experience in innovation, having held leadership positions in government agencies, universities, start-ups, large companies and cluster associations, having created successful businesses and acted as a consultant. 

He heads MC Sonae’s R&D and Innovation Department, managing around 35 million euros of R&D investments annually, involving sub-holdings of the group in collaborative projects ranging from biomaterials to food innovation, robotics, intelligent logistics, clean energies and digital transformation. He holds various leadership positions in European and national organizations, namely as EIT-Manufacturing Supervisory Board Member (also Deputy Chairman of Advisory Board at EIT-Manufacturing Impact Center West), and as Chairman of the Portuguese Collaborative Laboratory for the Blue Bioeconomy (CoLab B2E). 

Jörg Ullmann is a graduate biologist, and author of scientific publications, popular science books on algae, amateur diver and amateur algae cook. In the small town of Klötze in north-eastern Germany, he and his team runs one of the largest microalgae farms in Europe with his company. The company largely produces biomass from the microalgae Chlorella and a dozend other species by using photobioreactors and fermenters. Ullmann is also the initiator of many scientific cooperation projects on the subject of algae and wants to raise people’s awareness of them as a foodstuff with many campaigns and initiatives – such as “World Algae Day” on October 12th or the development of the world`s first “Algae Sommelier” course.

Jörg Ullmann, based in Klötze, Saxony-Anhalt, DE, is currently Managing Director and Scientific Project Manager at Algenfarm Klötze GmbH & Co. KG (“Algae Farm Klötze”). 

Jörg Ullmann brings with him 21-years experience from previous roles at the algae farm in Klötze ranging from laboratory to production to commercialization. He is actively involved on a voluntary basis in various organizations that deal with the topic of algae, like the DECHEMA Working Group on Algal Biotechnology, the German Agricultural Society Committee “New Feed & Food” or the Substances List Working Group of the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety.

Since 2016, he has been the European representative of the Colombian-based NGO Fundación Atlántida, which fights malnutrition in children with the help of Spirulina.

Franck is graduated from the Marine Biology and Biotechnology Laboratory of the University of Caen (France), specialized in the valorization of marine resources. He started his career in Canada in the field of aquaculture and processing.   

Franck has extensive industrial and scientific experience in the field of biomarine technologies in various applications, from animal feed and pharmaceuticals to human and plant health. 

Franck managed for 5 years, a small seaweed research team in the Biochemistry department of the National University of Ireland Galway and co-founded OGT, an Irish company that develops new seaweed extracts, where he became Technical Director in 2008. OGT was acquired by the Spanish company Tradecorp International in June 2014 (Rovensa Next), where he was appointed as global manager of seaweed projects for the entire group. In 2016, Franck started a new challenged where, with his colleagues he transformed a spin-off company into ALGAIA, a company that produces seaweed extracts for food, cosmetic, medical device and agriculture makets. ALGAIA also provides analysis, and bioactivity testing for the valorization of seaweed in many sectors of activity. Franck is also a shareholder in a French consultancy company called SEANEO, which specializes in the management of aquaculture, artificial reefs and marine protected areas.

Franck Hennequart took over the coordination of the SpiralG project (www.spiralg.eu) following the departure of Jean-Paul Cadoret from GREENSEA S.A (2020), who was the founder and initial coordinator of the project.

Stefan obtained his PhD on phylogenetics and aquaculture of edible seaweeds at the National University of Ireland, Galway in 2001. In parallel took the role as manager of the Irish Seaweed Industry Organisation and established the Irish Seaweed Centre in 2001, a dedicated R&D centre for seaweed-based research and development at the University Of Galway Ireland. 

After 10 years of running the centre, he resigned to set up Ocean Harvest Technology Ltd to pursue and develop some commercial ideas using seaweeds for a variety of purposes amongst them functional food ingredients for fish farming and novel algae cultivation systems for biofuel production. After 8 years he resigned and co-founded The Seaweed Company in 2018. A company with complete horizontal integration developing the whole seaweed value chain from cultivation to biostimulant feed, food, and biomaterials with as highlight SeaMeatTM, a processed meat replacement ingredient. Dr Kraan stepped out of the Seaweed Company in December 2024 after a buyout of the company. 

Stefan was President of the International Seaweed Association (2016-2019) and is currently President for the International Society for Applied Phycology (2024-2027). He was business coach of 14 Indonesian seaweed companies under the Dutch Ministry of Economics and Climate Policy’s development program (CBI/RVO) to help diversify and increase export to Europe from 2019-2024. 

Currently he developing seaweed cultivation in India and developing biodegradable rope for kelp cultivation in Norway. His main fields of expertise are aquaculture of seaweeds, sustainable development of algal resources, industrial applications of seaweeds and usage of seaweeds in animal feed, aquaculture, biotechnology and biomedicine.

Anabela Raymundo, Chemical engineer, MSc in Food Science and Technology and a PhD in Food Engineering. Associated Professor with Habilitation. Coordinator of the Food and Feed Group from LEAF research unit. https://www.isa.ulisboa.pt/en/leaf/research-groups/group-3-food-feed.

Research work in close collaboration with companies, taking an active role in the transfer of knowledge from the university to the industry; Member of the Board of Directors of Portugal Foods (https://www.portugalfoods.org) and was a founding member of Colab4Food (https://colab4food.com).

Coordinator of teaching areas of Innovation, Food Rheology and Quality management. Main research areas of interest: functional properties of macromolecules; development of new food products; evaluation of the rheological behavior of different food matrices. Main work focused on using poorly exploited food sources (e.g., microalgae biomass, seaweeds and insects and food industry by-products) and by-products, to develop high added-value products. Participation in several national and international research projects, namely as PI. Several awards in the area of innovation by different entities. Consultancy and project evaluation activity. Member of the National Council of Science and Technology.

Dr. Antoinette Kazbar is an Assistant Professor at Wageningen University & Research, Bioprocess engineering Group, specializing in bioprocess engineering with a focus on sustainable biorefineres and integrated processes. She teaches courses in Advanced Biorefineries, Bioprocess Design and Transfer Processes, and supervises master’s and doctoral students. Dr. Kazbar leads research projects funded by the Netherlands Research Council (NWO) and the Good Food Institute (GFI), focusing on the optimization of biorefinery processes. Prior to this role, she was Research Project Manager at Algosource Technologies in France, where she led R&D projects on microalgae-based processes. 

Dr. Kazbar has a PhD in Bioprocess Engineering from the University of Nantes, where she studied the impact of dissolved oxygen concentration on photobioreactor performance. She also has a master’s degree in Marine Biotechnology and a bachelor’s degree in Health and Environment from the Lebanese University. In addition, Dr. Kazbar is vice-president of the microalgae bioengineering section of ESBES and reviews for leading scientific journals.

Dr. Fengzheng Gao is an Established Researcher at ETH Zurich, specializing in Microalgae in Human Nutrition and Health. He holds two PhDs, one in Bioprocess Engineering from Wageningen University, The Netherlands, and another one in Aquatic Product Processing and Storage Engineering from Ocean University of China, China.

Dr. Gao is the holder of the Spark grant and Swiss Postdoctoral Fellowship (Swiss transitional measure for the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie program) from the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), and the holder of a grant from the Diamond Light Source, UK. He is also involved in the SNSF Sinergia international project and Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein project. Between 2021 and 2022, he was the Project Leader of an NWO Science XS project funded by the Dutch Research Council working on oxygen production from 3D bioprinted living microalgae for regenerative medicine.

Between 2017 and 2021, he was involved in the large European Horizon 2020 project MAGNIFICENT (16 partners from 7 European countries), working on fucoxanthin and docosahexaenoic acid production in the microalga Tisochrysis lutea. In 2021, he obtained a Scientific Exchange Grant from the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) to do research at GreenCoLab, the Centro de Ciências do Mar (CCMAR), and NECTON S.A. in Portugal. In 2022, He obtained the VLAG Research Fellowship from Wageningen University to visit University College London and University of Cambridge in the UK.

In December of 2022, Dr. Gao joined ETH Zurich as the Team Leader of the Microalgae in Human Nutrition and Health R&D, a joint strategic research line between Sustainable Food Processing Group and Laboratory of Nutrition and Metabolic Epigenetics.Dr. Gao has given more than 40 oral presentations on Microalgal Biotechnology during multiple large international conferences. Dr. Gao received the EU Young Algaeneers Innovation Award (funded by European Commission) in 2021 and the Best Microalgae Award (European Algae Biomass Association) in 2020.

Kirstin Knufmann is a leading algae expert, innovator and advocate of sustainable nutrition and living. She began her career in real estate before studying photography in Cologne and Barcelona. After working as a fashion and celebrity photographer in celebrities in Munich, New York and Los Angeles, Knufmann discovered raw food in the USA, which sparked her passion for recipe development and led her to become an expert in health, food and algae.

In 2010, Knufmann founded PureRaw in the Altmark region, establishing herself as a pioneer in the raw and vegan nutrition industry. Her first cookbook, Raw! Meine raffinierte Rohkostküche (Raw! My Fancy Raw Food Kitchen), was published in 2013. Since then, PureRaw has become a market leader in superfoods and raw vegan products, with Knufmann being recognized as a prominent advocate of healthy and sustainable nutrition.

Knufmann is also a visionary in algae-based food products, having developed and introduced algae-based solutions for both the B2B and B2C markets since 2010. Kirstin Knufmann is a passionate advocate of the role of algae in sustainable nutrition. She founded the AlgaeFoodInnovation forum, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), which continues as a sustainable network.

Knufmann is currently conducting cutting-edge research into algae biotechnology, including a project focused on the production of textile fibers from algae. As a sought-after speaker at international conferences, she continues to share her expertise on sustainable living, the transformative potential of algae and innovative solutions for various sectors, from food to materials.

(b. 1980, Portugal) – Marine biologist with over 20 years’ experience in macroalgae, combining a solid academic background with an entrepreneurial vision. In the Azores, she explored taxonomy and ecology, and embraced Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture (IMTA). Since 2004, as part of his PhD, he has been studying algae culture integrated with fish, accumulating vast experience in species, culture systems and biomass. She has worked in Portugal, the USA, Chile and Ireland on sustainable aquaculture practices.

In 2011, Helena co-founded ALGAplus, the first European company to cultivate seaweed in an organically certified IMTA system for various applications, including food and cosmetics. After her departure in 2024, Helena will dedicate herself to strategic consulting for the advancement of the seaweed sector and its value chain.

President of the International Seaweed Association (ISA, 2023-2025); participates in the Strategic Council of the Global Seaweed Coalition.

Helena has supervised more than 25 students, published on algae ecology and cultivation, and is a sought-after speaker, advocating sustainable innovation in the algae sector.

José Luis Guzmán was born in Almería, Spain, March 20, 1979. He received the Computer Science Engineering degree and the European Ph.D. degree (extraordinary doctorate award) from the University of Almería, Spain, in 2002 and 2006, respectively. He started working at the University of Almería in 2001 with a scholarship and has been linked to the University since then. He is Full Professor of automatic control and system engineering at the University of Almería, where he also belongs to the Automatic Control, Robotics, and Mechatronics research group and CIESOL research center. His research interests are focused on PID control, feedforward tuning rules, MPC techniques, and robust control with applications to biotechnology, solar plants, and agricultural processes. He has more than 15 years of experience working in modeling, control, simulation, and optimization of microalgae production systems.
More info: https://w3.ual.es/personal/joguzman/

Joana T. Rosa is a senior researcher at S2AQUAcoLAB since 2022, where she leads the In Vitro Cell Culture Laboratory. She is also an integrated researcher at the Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR) and previously held a research position in the Evo/Devo Research Group at Ghent University (UGent). She holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Algarve and has over 15 years of experience in scientific research and science communication, her expertise lies in molecular and cellular biology.

At S2AQUAcoLAB, her research focuses on developing in vitro cell systems to advance aquaculture, including cellular aquaculture, by exploring the use of microalgae to enhance sustainability in the field. She is actively involved in several national and international aquaculture projects, oversees the development of an in vitro service platform for aquaculture research, serves as the principal investigator of the uCELLAQUA project, and leads S2AQUA’s participation in the FEASTS Horizon Europe and INOVACEL projects—all dedicated to advancing cellular aquaculture.

Her contributions to the field have been recognized with several awards, including INOVA+ (INOVA), BlueBioValue Ideation (BGI and Oceano Azul Foundation)), and the Cultivated Meat Innovation Challenge (GFI/EIT Food). She has presented her work at more than 60 national and international conferences and is an active member of the cellular agriculture community. She has played a key role in organizing three International Conferences on Cellular Agriculture in Portugal, co-chaired the second edition, and is currently co-chairing the upcoming third edition.

Leonel Pereira is a renowned Portuguese chef from the Algarve. Before transitioning to gastronomy, he served as a marine in the 1990s, an experience he deems essential in shaping his values of determination and resilience. With a career spanning over 30 years, Leonel Pereira has excelled as an executive chef at prestigious hotel chains, including Sheraton, Méridien, Orient-Express, Pestana, and Pousadas de Portugal. In 2013, he assumed leadership of the São Gabriel restaurant in Almancil, where he earned a Michelin star in 2014. In 2020, he launched “Check-in Faro by Leonel Pereira,” a modern and relaxed venue in Faro that quickly received “Bib Gourmand” recognition from the Michelin Guide.

In 2020, he opened “Check-in Faro by Leonel Pereira”, a modern and relaxed space in the city of Faro, which quickly received “Bib Gourmand” recognition from the Michelin Guide.

In 2024, he received the Sustainability Prize from the Boa Cama Boa Mesa Guide, which recognizes his commitment to sustainable gastronomic practices. Chef Leonel is committed to sustainability and emphasizes the value of local products. Passionate about supporting local suppliers, Leonel has been exploring innovative ways to integrate sustainable ingredients into his dishes. His partnership with GreenCoLab exemplifies this commitment, enabling him to incorporate biomass and algae into his restaurant’s menu, Check-In Faro. These ingredients not only provide nutritional benefits but also serve as an ecological and innovative alternative in haute cuisine.

The use of algae embodies Leonel Pereira’s vision for the future of cuisine: a cuisine that respects the environment, celebrates the flavors of the sea, and promotes more responsible practices. Through this approach, the chef continues to elevate Portuguese cuisine, blending tradition, creativity, and sustainability.

Graduated from the University of Granada in 1992, and PhD at the University of Almería (Spain) in 1996. Professor at the Department of Chemical Engineering of the University of Almería from 2012 onwards. Prof. Acién has participated in 17 European projects in addition to National projects and contracts with companies. Regarding publications, he published more than 250 papers in international journals and 15 book chapters, in addition to 15 patents. He is Vice-President of EABA and a member of international societies such as the International Society for Applied Phycology, the Latino-American Society for Algal and Environmental Biotechnology, and the Spanish Platform of Biomass (BIOPLAT). He is an editor of Algal Research and RELABIAA journals, in addition to a reviewer of international journals. Major contributions to the Biotechnology of the microalgae field are related to the improvement of photobioreactor design, scale-up of production systems, and economic analysis of production processes. (orcid.org/0000-0002-8434-0365, Scopus ID: 55385950700).

Dr Pi Nyvall is Scientific Affairs Director for Olmix, a French company providing natural solutions for agriculture and agribusiness based on seaweed, clays and trace elements. She first integrated Olmix in 2012 as R&D manager to coordinate research and development on the use of seaweed, from processing, production and stabilization of extracts and identification of the potential applications for plant, animal and human care applications. She has been leading the participation of Olmix in collaborative research projects such as Ulvans, Algolife, Genialg, Studima and Algahealth on the development of algal applications. Currently Olmix is parter in the CBE JU Flagship project Proteus.

Pi has 30 years’ experience in research on seaweed, spanning over genomics, biochemistry, enzymology and physiology as well as applications. Her research has taken her to different parts of the world: a year internship at University of California, Santa Cruz, USA, her PhD thesis in Plant Physiology at Stockholm University, Sweden, in collaboration with the Scottish Crop Research Institute, Dundée, UK, a Post-doctorate period at the University of São Paulo, Brazil, and from 2001 at the Roscoff Biological Station in France working on seaweed polysaccharides and CAZymes.

Her scientific production includes over 50 research articles, 8 patents and the co-tutoring of seven thesis students to date. She is corresponding member of the French Academy of Agriculture, member of the Board of EABA, and the Scientific committees of CEVA and ONIRIS.

Emily Dorne is a lead data scientist at DrivenData where she develops machine learning models for social impact. Her expertise lies in classifying animals in camera trap videos to support conservationists, identifying harmful algal blooms to support water quality managers, and helping data scientists consider the ethical implications of their work.

She is passionate about using data for social good and has previously worked at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Stanford Center for International Development, and the Brookings Institution.

Jan has a master’s degree in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation (EMBC+).

Jan lived in the UK for several years where he studied and worked in marine habitat protection. During this time, Jan worked for the Environment Agency of Wales as a scientific diver, monitoring marine protected areas and developing conservation management plans for EU-protected habitats and species. Since 2019, Jan Verbeek has been working as SeaForester’s Scientific Manager in Portugal, where he leads the development and implementation of projects, as well as supporting research, communication, and fundraising activities.

Jan directs the company’s scientific research and development programs, working closely with a team of consultants and experts to develop innovative solutions to restore seaweed forests. He has also been involved in various initiatives and working groups with international organizations, such as the United Nations and the Green Gravel Action Group (www.greengravel.org), to promote research, advocacy and the global movement to protect and restore seaweed ecosystems.

Jorge Dias is a Marine Biologist and holds a MSc in Food Technology (University of Bordeaux, France), a MSc in Marine Biology and Fisheries (University of Algarve, Portugal) and a PhD in Fish Nutrition from the University of Porto (Portugal).

He created SPAROS in 2008 and manages in collaboration with his partner Luís, and he is responsible for managing and supervising the production line operation, as well as product development and quality issues. An expert in nutritional modulation of fish performance and quality, he formulates feeds for SPAROS products, its R&D projects and customers, and defines specifications and feeding practices.

Laura Maragna is graduated in International Relations, with post-graduation in Political Science. Laura has also studied Environmental Science Management in Australia.

After working for diplomatic missions, UN agency and environmental organizations, in 2014 Laura worked for the EU Joint Research Centre (JRC) at the EU Delegation to Brazil, following several projects being developed in collaboration with Brazilian Ministry of Science and research institutions. In 2016, Laura started to work for the EU Directorate General for Research and Innovation (R&I) and was responsible for the R&I sector of the EU Delegation to Brazil from 2021 to 2022.

In 2022, Laura moved to Portugal and joined EurA as the EU4Algae project manager, since 2022.

Hywel Griffiths is the chief scientist at Fermentalg, a French company specializing in the development and industrialization of microalgae molecules. He has been working in the production of microalgae by fermentation for almost 20 years, more than 10 of which at Fermentalg and the rest as CSO of a New Zealand start-up. As well as having experience in the technical aspects needed to bring an idea to an industrial reality, he has also been closely involved in the regulatory side and plays an active role in intellectual property management.

An expert in all facets of algal product development and with extensive experience as a scientific director, Hywel now heads up the scientific teams at the heart of Fermentalg’s mission.

Dr. Wang is the President and CEO of Triton Algae Innovations, Ltd. San Diego, California. He is also an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Biology of Hong Kong Baptist University. Previously he was a Board Director of the Algae Biomass Organization, the Head of Algae Bioscience at Reliance Industries Ltd. a Fortune Global 500 company, the Chief Technology Officer at Sapphire Energy Inc. San Diego.

From 1993 to 2011, Dr. Wang held various leadership positions in agricultural industries. He was the President of Syngenta Biotechnology (China), the Asia Pacific Regional Head of Biotechnology in Syngenta, a member of the Syngenta Global R&D Leadership Council, and a member of the Syngenta Global Biotechnology Leadership Team. He was the Head of Trait Research and Technologies, Syngenta global biotech R&D center in North Carolina, as well as the Founder and Director at Torrey Mesa Research Institute in San Diego. Prior to Syngenta, Dr. Wang was a Research Manager in Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Iowa, a DuPont Company, where he led the very first genome project in the agricultural industry.

Dr. Wang is the author of over 50 patents and has published over 20 peer-reviewed research articles. Dr. Wang received his Ph.D at Iowa State University.

Fabiane Almeida is a biologist, Business Manager, and holds a PhD in Freshwater Biology from National Institute for Amazonian Research (INPA), with a research exchange at the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), where she specialized in environmental bioindicators and the use of microalgae for water quality monitoring. Her career combines scientific research, innovation, and entrepreneurship, with a strong focus on the Amazon bioeconomy.

She is currently the co-founder and CEO of Aqua Viridi, a startup dedicated to developing sustainable biotechnologies based on microalgae in the Amazon. In recent years, she has led projects funded by Catalisa ICT, Centelha AM, and Sinapse Bioeconomy, fostering innovative solutions for sustainable aquaculture. In 2024, Aqua Viridi was selected to join the Brazil-Portugal mission at Web Summit Lisbon. In 2025, Aqua Viridi was also chosen for the Women in Ocean Food (Mexico) program, which brings together female leaders in the blue bioeconomy sector.

With international academic and professional experience, Fabiane has taught courses in Costa Rica and collaborated on projects in Colombia, Guatemala, and Peru. Her work focuses on enhancing Amazonian resources through biotechnology, bridging innovation and sustainability to promote the region’s balanced development.

Elisabete da Costa holds a PhD in Sustainable Chemistry, specializing in high-value products from macroalgae. With a strong foundation in Industrial Chemistry and Instrumental Analysis, she began her career in industrial research, gaining hands-on expertise in innovation and sustainability.

As an advisor and project manager at BlueBio Alliance, she is dedicated to advancing blue biotechnology, driving the sustainable use of marine bioresources, and fostering knowledge transfer. Her work is centered on business creation, strategic development, and network cooperation to accelerate the growth of the blue bioeconomy toward a more sustainable future.

Urd obtained her PhD in Seaweed Cultivation in the Faroe Islands at Ocean Rainforest, supervised by the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), in 2019. In parallel, she took on the role of research manager at Ocean Rainforest, leading international, Nordic, and national innovation projects aimed at producing seaweed-based products from cultivated kelp and red macroalgal species.

Urd has extensive expertise in kelp and hatchery seeding techniques as well as the seasonal variation of chemical composition. Additionally, her fields of expertise include offshore aquaculture of seaweeds, sustainable development of algal resources, and industrial applications of seaweeds.

Currently, she is the Project Manager of the Horizon Europe-funded project SeaMark “Seaweed-based Market Applications,” coordinated by Ocean Rainforest and involving 25 partners in total. She oversees more than 8 other R&D projects related to the European operations of Ocean Rainforest.

Ocean Rainforest is a pioneering blue growth company located in the Faroe Islands, California (USA), and Baja California (Mexico). The company aims to improve people’s wellbeing and make a unique contribution to our blue planet. We use science, innovation, and expertise to apply sustainable methods to grow and harvest seaweed and process it into premium quality products for our target customer segments.

We believe we can improve biodiversity in the ocean and on land with our cultivated seaweed-based products, and as such, have a positive impact on food production on the planet, while simultaneously reducing the emission of harmful greenhouse gases. Thus, our vision is to create local ocean rainforests around the world in partnership with local, like-minded collaborators.

b. 1985, Denmark, female.

Humphrey is a Senior Seaweed Specialist and part of the Leadership Team at Notpla. He has been at the company for over 3 years and has led the development of several new Notpla packaging products, including Notpla Rigid, Paper & Pipettes. Prior to joining the business, Humphrey trained as an Investment Analyst and has managed the Operations for a number of sustainability-focused start-ups. 

When he is not at Notpla, Humphrey is working at the other end of the seaweed value chain, as the co-Founder of Algapelago, a seaweed cultivation business based in South West England, which makes sustainable agricultural products from cultivated kelp.

Camilla is Chief Innovation Officer and co-founder at B’ZEOS. She has a background in mechanical and nanotechnology engineering, and a PhD in materials science. During her career she has been developing sustainable products and ecofriendly fabrication processes using biobased polymers for both packaging and opto-electronic industry. 

She supports the B’ZEOS team developing new technology verticals and synergic partnerships, ensuring market fit of innovative products and optimizing product performance for seamless introduction in industrial scale production.

Guido holds a PhD in chemistry and has more than 25 years’ in the food industry directing multinationals and startups in everything from R&D to sales and operations. Today Guido is leading the scale up of Koralo’s unique microalgae & mushroom root co-fermentation across Europe, Korea and the US.

Miguel Marques is the President of the Executive Board of Inovamar, the leading entity of the Blue Bioeconomy Pact. The Blue Bioeconomy Pact aims to make a significant contribution to the reindustrialisation and decarbonisation of the Portuguese economy through investments in the Blue Bioeconomy amounting to 133 million euros in the triennium 2023-2025. Miguel is a subject-matter expert and the author of several books, as well as over 100 international reports and studies on the blue economy. He regularly attends meetings with shareholders, boards of directors, and senior management from around the globe, sharing insights and best practices. He is frequently invited as a keynote speaker at prominent international blue economy forums and has also been featured in some noteworthy journals and newspapers.  

Helena Vieira is currently a Senior Coordinator Researcher in Environmental Economics and Sustainable Natural Resources Management at the University of Aveiro/CESAM, Portugal.  She is responsible for launching the ERA CHAIR BESIDE and coordinating a new research team, joining natural and socio-economic sciences, to develop further knowledge on environment and ecosystem valorisation and sustainable future solutions and business models.

Helena also acts as a Board Member of the EU Mission Restore our Oceans and Waters for the mandate 2022-2025 where she bridges the mission implementation between the EU and Portugal as well as Chair of the Scientific Committee of the Circular BioBased Europe Joint Union (CBE-JU), a public-private partnership between European Commission and the Biobased Industry Consortium (BIC) to promote bioeconomy and circularity model.

Previously she acted as Director General of Maritime Policy under the Minister of the Sea of the XXII Government of Portugal. Having over 24 years of professional experience in academia, industry and policy backgrounds, she has been a lecturer (U. Lisbon and U. Angola), consultant expert (United Nations, EU – BioBased Industry (BBI-JU), Circular Biobased Economy (CBEJU), BlueBio Co-Fund, European Innovation Council, CINEA, EASME, etc…), hold political & administrative roles in national government and European Commission and has also acted as manager and coordinator of several companies and teams in the fields of life and ocean sciences and bioeconomy. An entrepreneur at heart, she has founded a few start-ups and was co-founder and CEO (2005-13) of BIOALVO SA, a Portuguese marine biotech company. She was also Executive Director of BLUEBIO ALLIANCE (2014-19), the Portuguese network for the marine bioresources sector.

With a PhD in Biomedicine (Imperial College of London) and an Executive Post Graduation in Leadership and Strategy in Biotech & Pharma from Harvard Business School, she has worked mostly in the borderlines of science, industry & policy, helping everyone to speak common languages and design solutions for common goals. She speaks 5 languages and loves to travel & dive in any of the oceans of our planet!

Rui Pereira is presently the Head of Seaweed Division at A4F – Algae for Future, a company with more than 15 years of experience in the field of algae biotechnology. Before, until the beginning of 2020, he was the research director at Algaplus, Lda, a company that he co-founded in 2012 and where he occupied different roles, from head of scientific projects to production manager.

Academically trained as a Biologist by the University of Porto, with a specialization in scientific research and with a particular interest for applied research, obtained his PhD in 2004, with work developed in between the University or Porto and the University of Connecticut (UConn, USA). The interest for applied research with seaweed started immediately after finishing his BSc and continued until present.

Prior to the transition to the business world, he developed a career as post-doc researcher at the Centre for Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR) with passages through the Marine Biotechnology Laboratory at UConn and through the Bridgeport Regional Aquaculture Science and Technology Centre (CT, USA), where he also had the chance to teach and work with young grad and undergrad students.

As researcher, and including also the years within the business field, he accumulates the experience of participation in more than 20 national and international projects, published several book chapters and more than 40 scientific papers in peer reviewed journals. He was a member and co-chair of the Expert Working Group on Macroalgae Culture, under the context of project Eklipse – Bridging the gap between policy and knowledge on biodiversity in Europe. He also serves as invited reviewer for several of those scientific journals, is a member of the Portuguese mirror committee for the Standardization of Algae and Algae products (CT211 and CEN_TC454), he is the Leader of the Work Group 2 – Ulva in Aquaculture – of the Cost Action SeaWheat (CA20106) and the leader of Work Package 2 of the EU project INNOAQUA, in this case working on the production of Ulva and Gracilaria in IMTA.

Rosário Domingues graduated in Pharmaceutical Sciences, the University of Coimbra (1990), received her Ph.D. degree in Chemistry (1998), and Habilitation in Biochemistry (2014), the University of Aveiro. Since 2016 she held the contract of associated professor with habilitations in the Mass Spectrometry Centre, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro (UA). She has over 25 years of research experience in the field of mass spectrometry. She is a well-established researcher in the field of lipidomics, oxidative lipidomics, food and algae lipidomics, and glycomics. She is the leader of the Lipidomic Laboratory of the Mass Spectrometry Centre of the UA.

She has taken part in several juries for academic exams, and scientific committees for congresses, and has supervised post-doctoral, doctoral, and master’s students. She is the author of a book and six book chapters and has published more than 220 articles in leading international journals.

Furthermore, Rosário Domingues is Deputy Head of the Chemistry Department and presently is the Director of the UA Doctoral Program.

Isabel Costa is an Assistant Researcher at CIIMAR – Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research of the University of Porto (UP), Portugal, in the Coastal Biodiversity team. She is also an Invited Assistant Professor at the Abel Salazar Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS-UP). Isabel holds a BSc in Aquatic Sciences, a MSc in Environmental Engineering and a PhD in water quality and primary productivity modelling in estuarine environments. Her research was initially focused on ecological quality assessment and rehabilitation of freshwater, estuarine, and coastal water systems combining both academic and industry perspectives. Her current work centers on developing and optimizing seaweed cultivation methods across different scales, both at sea and on land, including the development of integrated multi-trophic aquaculture systems, and the implementation of methodologies for mapping, monitoring, and restoring macroalgal communities in natural habitats. Isabel has served as an external expert on evaluation panels for NOAA/NMFS and COST funding programs, and as an expert for the European Commission on seaweed production and cultivation. She co-founded ISS – Ínclita Seaweed Solutions, a spin-off company from CIIMAR.

ORCID ID: 0000-0003-1528-3907

Marta Batista de Sá has an M.Sc. in Food Engineering and a Ph.D. in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering. She has worked at several food research institutes specializing in aquaculture, viticulture, and coffee production. During her Ph.D., she developed an online sensor for microalgae production using fluorescence spectroscopy. Later, as a Domain Expert at OnePlanet Research Center, she served to bridge the gap between sensor technology and the Food and Biotech industries. Marta is the AlgaeHUB team manager at Lgem| Synalgae, where we aim to provide the microalgae industry with tailored solutions.

Prof. Wijffels did a BSc in Food Engineering at the University of Applied Sciences in ‘s Hertogenbosch and an MSc in Environmental Engineering at Wageningen University followed by a PhD to develop sustainable technologies. He became assistant professor in the biotechnology program in Wageningen and did research in environmental biotechnology, yeast fermentation and biocatalysis. He also initiated the research themes marine biotechnology and algal biotechnology at Wageningen University. In this research international collaboration and bridging the gap between scientific research and industrial applications are stimulated by the development of the pilot facility AlgaePARC. 

In 2005 he was appointed as personal professor in Marine Biotechnology, followed by an appointment as professor in Bioprocess Engineering in 2007. Bioprocess Engineering develops innovative bio-based processes. The mission is to work on a sustainable and healthy future by engineering efficient bioprocesses for high quality products. Both photoautotrophic (microalgae) and heterotrophic (yeasts, bacteria) production systems for biobased products, as well as high-quality processes for the production of biopharmaceuticals (animal cells) are developed.

Prof. Wijffels initiated and directed the Centre for Biobased Economy for development of education programs in this field. From 2017 Wageningen University started an MSc program in Biobased Sciences. In 2022 a program was started to set up education, research and scale-up of Cellular Agriculture (precision fermentation and cultivated meat) via the Dutch Growth Fund program. At Wageningen University he is starting a new theme on Cellular Agriculture with 3 newly appointed tenure track assistant professors. He is director of the Dutch education program in Cellular Agriculture.

He was appointed as professor2 at Nord University in Norway since 2013 to develop an algal research program with a focus on application in aquaculture and the use of arctic microalgal strains. His ambition is to extend the research program at Nord University to Cellular Agriculture.

He published 451 articles in peer-reviewed journals (H-factor 84, Web of Science).

Mariana Carneiro holds a PhD in Chemical and Biological Engineering from the University of Porto. She has made significant contributions to the microalgae industry by tackling various challenges related to microalgae production. Since 2021, she serves as an innovation manager at Necton S.A., where she leads several European projects, including REALM and Algae4IBD. In her role, Mariana also focuses on process optimization and identifies areas for innovation within the company’s microalgae production efforts.

Joana Laranjeira Silva. Completed her PhD in Biotecnologia in 2005/09/25 at Universidade Católica Portuguesa Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, her Masters by Universidade de Coimbra, and Bachelors in Microbiology at Universidade Católica Portuguesa Escola Superior de Biotecnologia.

Joana joined A4F-Algae for Future in 2010 as a Senior Project Manager, overseeing various national and international projects. Joana left this position to work as an I&D Consultant at Necton until 2016, and then transitioned to a similar role at Secil – ALGAFARM. From 2016 to 2019, Joana worked as an R&D Manager at SECIL / Algafarm. In 2018, she began working at Allmicroalgae as R&D and Plant Manager. Currently, Joana holds the position of Head of Biotechnology at Arborea, starting in November 2022.

Joana has published over 100 articles in journals, 6 section(s) of books and 1 book(s). Co-supervised more than 4 PhD thesis(es). Joana is an expert in microalgae cultivation at the large-scale and the application of added-value compounds in different fields. She was involved in several national (ALGAVALOR, ALGAESOLUTIONS, PERFORMALGAE) and international (PROFUTURE, ZEROW, SIMBA) projects.

Iago has 19 years of experience in the field of research. He started as a researcher in microalgae production in 2010 while working as a Lab Manager and doing a master’s in industrial biotechnology on microalgae for wastewater treatment). Afterwards, he worked as a consultant before starting a PhD at Wageningen University (2012-2016). In 2017, while working as a scientific translator and editor, he returned to Wageningen. Quickly growing as a project manager before starting as Research Manager of Microalgal Biotechnology in 2023. Iago is passionate about Science and solving problems. His working expertise includes microalgae biotech, scientific communication, biostatistics, biotechnology, production of microorganisms, cost and sustainability analyses, project management, and acquisition.

Margarida Martins holds a master’s in biotechnology and a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Aveiro. During her PhD, she has focused on developing sustainable biorefinery processes for high-value compounds derived from algae and industry co-products. With over a decade of experience in macroalgae. Currently, she is the Innovation Coordinator at ALGAplus, a Portuguese company that produces land organic certified seaweed year-round. She manages R&D projects and new product development. She has authored over 30 publications in international scientific journals, holds three national patents, and has contributed to a book chapter, in addition to presenting at multiple international conferences.

Margarida Costa is the leader of the Microalgae Section at the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) in Oslo (Norway). She works closely with other research institutes, universities, and private companies in the microalgae biotechnology field to find scientific and industrial solutions within the topic. Margarida has a strong background in added-value marine compounds. She had previously worked in bioactive marine natural compounds from cyanobacteria in CIIMAR, the Marine and Environmental Research Center, at Matosinhos (Portugal). In 2014, she was granted an ITN Marie Skłodowska-Curie research grant and moved to the University of Iceland for a PhD in marine natural products chemistry. Besides, Margarida collaborated on other European projects, studying the metabolome of cyanobacterial strains with anti-obesity properties. In 2019, Margarida Costa seized the opportunity to enroll in an industrial postdoc at Allmicroalgae´s production facility, optimizing microalgae growing conditions and producing compounds of interest at the laboratory, pilot, and industrial scales. Margarida has over thirty peer-reviewed scientific papers, three book chapters, and a patent.

Alexandre Rodrigues holds a licentiate degree in Microbiology and Genetics from the Faculty of Sciences of Lisbon University, Portugal, and a PhD degree awarded by the Faculty of Medicine of Lisbon University. His PhD studies about the in vivo regeneration of zebrafish and Xenopus tissues were developed at the Centre of Regenerative Medicine in Barcelona (CMRB), Spain. After his PhD, Alexandre worked as a research technician in histology and genetics laboratories in Barcelona, after which he moved back to Portugal to work as a post-doc at the University of Algarve.

In 2017, Alexandre started collaborating with Necton S.A. as a sales consultant. Given his scientific background, in 2019 he moved to the Innovation Department as a Project Manager, becoming responsible for the ongoing R&D projects’ management, applications to new projects, and student coordination. In 2022 he was nominated Coordinator of the growing Innovation Department and in the beginning of 2023, he also became the Coordinator of Allmicroalgae’s Innovation Department, after the acquisition of this company by Necton. Alexandre now leads two teams of 6 PhDs, 4 PhD students, and 2 technicians (MsCs) in developing technology, sustainability, and innovative products.

João Varela began his working career in 1985, having been invited as a monitor to support classes on Genetics at the Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon from the fourth year of his Applied Plant Biology BSc degree until 1988. He obtained an MSc degree in Biotechnology, speciality Molecular Biology, at Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência and Universidade Nova de Lisboa in 1990. In 1995, he earned his PhD degree at Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam.

He was hired as a postdoc at the Netherlands Institute of Oncology (NKI). In 1998, he started as an Assistant Professor at the University of the Algarve (UALG) in the area of Genetics, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology. Here he began his research into microalgae. He is a founding member of the Centro de Ciências do Mar do Algarve (CCMAR; ccmar.ualg.pt). Currently, together with Luísa Barreira, he leads the MarBiotech group at CCMAR, which focuses on Microalgae Biotechnology and participates as an active member and founder of the collaborative laboratory GreenCoLab (greencolab.com). He has participated in more than 30 competitively funded projects and 2 research contracts.

He is a member of the editorial boards of Algal Research, Marine Biotechnology, Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences, and Marine Drugs. He recently became an Associate Professor in Biotechnology and is the current director of the Marine Biology MSc programme at the University of Algarve.

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